Theatre on a Penny Pincher's Budget

I have had this urge to get to the theatre is Seattle. I did some research and found that Charles Dicken's Great Expectations was playing at the Center House Theatre located in the Seattle Center. So I found a date, Mary of course and we decided to make it a date.
I bought the tickets this time through Gold Star Events, a discounted ticket seller that helps people like me get out more. I bought two tickets for $23 dollars each with fees and taxes.
Mary decided that she wanted to eat at the Seattle Center Food Court for dinner, so we found a great deal at a Gyro place, $4.99 for a falafel pita (it was the perfect serving size). So dinner totaled a whopping $18.00 because we both got green tea. :)
After our quick and inexpensive dinner we ventured to Center House Theatre looking very cute. We both didn't know what to expect. We got their about 20 minutes early and decided that we would both get a drink, Mary a hard cider and I got red wine for a total of $10 (we love when volunteers pour the drinks because they are very generous)!

The theatre was very small and quaint. It wasn't what I was expecting because the seating surrounded the stage. When we got to our seats, we realized we had stage seating which was pretty cool. This theatre production was stripped down, so the acting told the story. It was a fantastic production and I recommend going to this theatre I call a diamond in the rough.

Another great Girls Night w/ Mary! The total cost of this was around $45 each with the cost of parking. We could have done it under $40 but we chose to have a drink before the play. :) 

Everyone LOVES a Pedi, Right?????

Two years ago, I never had a pedicure. I simply never understood why people just didn't paint their own nails and save money.

Now I LOVE the entire experience of getting a pedicure. It's such a great thing to do with your friends, family and even boyfriend/fiancé/husband! Sometimes you just have to pamper yourself and your feet. See my reviews of some local nail salons.

Cindy Nails - Issaquah
I just love Cindy Nails. It is a small family run salon in Gilman Village. They are usually pretty full so I recommend calling and making an appointment so you don't have to wait. This salon does not have the high tech massage chairs or a luxury feeling to it, so if that is what you want Cindy's in not the place for you. If you want a great lasting pedicure, a lengthy leg massage and nice staff then I recommend Cindy's. They massage your legs for at least 10 minutes and it is really relaxing and wonderful. The pedicure is around $28 dollars with a 20% tip.

Happy Nails - Bellevue
This is a newer nail salon located in downtown Bellevue. This salon is really nice and welcoming. It has eight massage chairs, four manicure tables, a waxing room and nice bathroom.  A girlfriend and I made an appointment here after work and loved our entire experience here. The staff spoke great english and were very friendly and accommodating to all their customers. They even brought me the right magazines to look at (apparently I scream US Weekly and In Touch). They give a 20% discount to all first time customers, so my pedicure totaled $25 with a 20% tip. I definitely recommend this place to all bargain hunters because this is really a great deal. Note: My pedicure lasted over a month!!

Trendz Nails - Kirkland
I found this salon because of a great Groupon discount, they were offering a pina colada manicure and pedicure for $30. Trendz is a brand new salon in Kirkland and has a wonderful location. It is a small boutique nail salon with four high-end massage chairs and two manciure tables. The pina colada manicure and pedicure was good but because I was using a Groupon, it felt like they were rushing through my manicure to stay on schedule. Also the manager was very open and honest that she was making any money with all the Groupon customers and was really pushy about telling you how much to tip. I personally would never go back here just because of that. The pedicures range from $30-$50.

Truce Spa - Bellevue Westin
I was treated to a spa date here and it was amazing. We started off with a pedicure; the staff was so friendly and cute. They offered us tea or water three times during the pedicure. The atmosphere was very tranquil and relaxing. This pedicure was not a bargain, but the experience trumped the price. :) Note: The couples massage was phenomenal!

Sunset Spa & Tanning - Bellevue
This nail salon is really nice. The lighting is dim, the atmosphere is relaxing and the staff is very friendly. I recommend calling ahead because they are always busy. They always ask if you want tea or water before they seat you in your nice and big massage chairs. The pedicure service is always phenomenal and lasts at least a month. The pedicures range from $30-$40 and the manicures range from $15-$25.

I also have to include the best foot massage deal on the Eastside, Beijing Herbal Foot Massage in Kirkland. If you really want to pamper yourself and especially your feet you have to go here. You can get a 60 minute foot massage for $25 dollars. But it is not only a foot massage, they rub your entire body...even your ears. :) The environment is a bit odd because you are in a room with at least eight other people and getting a full body massage in a reclining chair. I have to admit this was a great experience and I can't wait to go here again. Note: Bring cash to tip your masseuse.  

Ballet Date on a Dime

I have always wanted to go the ballet but just never made it happen. I was reading an article about local events and I saw that the Pacific Northwest Ballet was playing Cinderella this February.

My friend Mary and I decided we were going to make this date happen! I remembered that PNB had a discount for AAA members for 10% off all ticket purchases, the catch is you have to use a special link: PNB AAA Member Discount. 

Mary purchased two of the cheapest tickets available for under $25 thanks to our AAA Member discount.

I decided that I would make the dinner reservations for our Saturday night date. I wanted to find a restaurant that was walking distance to McCraw Hall and accepted Mary's Passport Dining Membership Card, which is gives you access to some of the best dining in Seattle, all at preferred prices reserved exclusively for cardholders. Following the criteria above I selected Racha Noodles.

We got all dolled up for our evening and made it to Seattle around 5:30 for our dinner reservation at Racha Noodles. We decided to both get a glass of wine and split an appetizer & entrée.

• Wine was good and the pours were very large for $6
• The sampler appetizer was very yummy. The perfect mix of all the Thai appetizers, the satay and peanut sauce were especially delicious.
• The Yellow Curry with Tofu was delish. The perfect mix of sweet and spicy.
• Total dinner bill with the 50% discount off an entree equaled <$40 with tip!

Me & Mary (those are our booster seats)

McCraw Hall is much larger then I remembered and very regal. We found our seats and they were on the second center tier. The seats were wonderful because we could see everything (with the help of our fancy booster seats). Our ballet experience was wonderful, I would definitely suggest going to McGraw hall as a date or girls night out.

Just Call Me a Happy Hour Lush!

One of my favorite ways to catch up with friends is getting together for Happy Hour! I try and go to Happy Hour at least once a week. It's the perfect excuse to try new places and do it on a budget.

I think I have tried most of the popular Eastside Happy Hours at least once. :) Below is a list of the spots I hit the most! It is my mission to get to every happy hour in Bellevue and venture into Seattle more.

Trellis Crush Hour - Kirkland
I think this is my favorite happy hour in Kirkland. The location is convenient to get to and finding parking is easy, the drinks and food prices are reasonable. Here is a quick rundown is it runs 4-6pm daily, select wine $6, $3 off cocktails, 50% off beer and small plates. I recommend the following food options all the flatbreads are great ($5), cheese platters are a good option with wine and a decent size ($6-$7) and the Sweet Potato Fries are awesome ($4). Trellis has a fantastic variety of food and drink options. Usually I spend around $15 at this happy hour!

Palimino - Bellevue's Lincoln Square
I love this happy hour because both food and drink prices are a steal of a deal and parking is validated! Another great thing about Palimino is that their Happy Hour is ALL DAY EVERY DAY in the bar. Here is everything you need to know select cocktails ($5), select wine ($4), draft beer ($4) and the food plates range from ($4-$9). I have tried pretty much every food plate on Happy Hour and they are all delish. My favorites are Potatoes Gorgonzola (best waffle fries around) and all their pizzas are great. Think about sharing food here because all the plates are huge serving sizes. This place gets crowded after 4pm so be prepared to wait.

Purple - Bellevue
This is a great happy hour for wine lovers. The happy hour is 3:30-5:30 daily. Select wine is $5 and select appetizers are $6-$10. I recommend their half purple chop salad it is enough to fill you up. The pizzaetta's are smaller in size so I don't recommend those if you are hungry. Also you have to try their $1 sea salt caramels.

Grand Cru - Bellevue
This is a great little lounge, with a great happy hour. There happy hour is from 4pm-7pm Tuesday-Saturday. They run different specials for happy hour everyday, my favorite is Wednesday's because it is Ladies Night. The drink details are $4 select wines, $4 well drinks and $5 martinis. All there food is delicious, my personal favorite are the steamed penn cove mussels that are served in a red coconut curry sauce. DELISH! My happy hour companions love the black truffle popcorn and the prawn po boy sandwich.

Cucina Cucina - Issaquah
I know most of you are thinking...Cucina Cucina is still around. Yes, they are and they have a great happy hour. Their happy hour is 4-close Thursday-Sunday. Here is a rundown their is a different drink special everyday, select wine ($2 off), select beer ($4) and food is 50% off. My favorite thing to order here is their $3 chop salad and $5 clams. Their pizzas, fried mozzarella and fry bread are always big hits with my happy hour companions. This place is rarely packed and typically an older crowd. But the Happy Hour is wonderful! I usually spend around $15 at this happy hour.

Agave - Issaquah
Agave is located in the Issaquah Highlands area and is a great little Tex Mex restaurant. Their happy hour is from 3:30-6:30 seven days a week. I love this place mainly because the margaritas are amazing and only $5! Here's my lowdown $3.50 draft beer, $5 margaritas and select wine is $5 a glass. NOTE: $5 Kettle One Martini's on Wednesday's. The food here is also really tasty and everything is under $6. I recommend the nachos and tacos. The shredded beef tacos have an amazing flavor. I recommend getting here before 5pm because the bar is pretty tiny and it gets crowded fast. The food, service and price are all great, you can easily get out of here paying less than $20. 

Spazzo - Redmond
Spazzo's is located in the Redmond Town Center. This happy hour has a wonderful selection of both food and drinks. Their happy hour is from 3pm-6pm EVERDAY. They have a huge bar so you can always find a seat, which is great. They are known for their Sangria, it is delish and only $3 on their happy hour menu. The drink specials range from $3-$7 dollars (15+ wine options, sangria, beer & speciality drinks). I ordered a $4 Cabernet and it hit the spot quite nicely. Their snack plates run from $4-$7. I recommend the mista salad, garlic cheese fries and artichoke hearts. You can easily get out of here spending less than $20 but it is also easy to spend more because of all the options. 

Ivars Salmon House - Seattle
This is a great spot for a quick happy hour in Seattle. Their happy hour is 3:30-close everyday which is great because most parking in the area is FREE after 6pm. Here's Lindsay's Lowdown select wine ($5), draft beer ($4), select cocktails ($6) and food ranges from $4-$10. The variety of seafood is great, they even offer small and large bites! I suggest ordering one small and one large bite and sharing it. The fish n chips are my favorite but the halibut bites are a close second.

Please look for my weekly happy hour write ups! You will be able to find them in the Fun tab.

Not in the Mood to Run...

I am an avid runner and most of the time I love running, but somedays it just doesn't seem fun. As a fitness fanatic I am always looking to find alternative forms of cardio and strength training to shock my body! :) 

Below are the best classes I have found! If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.

FlyFlex - Fly Fitness

This a new small gym located on Carillon Point in Kirkland. FlyFlex is a total body workout that slims your hips, tightens your thighs, lifts your bum and increases your metabolism. This is the best sculpting class I have been to because no class is ever the same. Tracy is the best and all the other trainers are equally great.

FlyCycle - Fly Fitness

This is another class offered at Fly Fitness. Flycycle is a traditional spinning class, 

you get it all…hills, sprints and endurance followed by abdominal and core exercise. The best part is that you are never looking at the clock. The instructors are awesome, the music is great, classes are small and again no class is ever the same! 

Organized Chaos - Fly Fitness
This is the best bootcamp on the Eastside! :) Anything goes with this ultimate calorie-burning workout! Each class is different, but every class is equally fun and challenging. 

Pilates w/ Gina - 24 Hour Fitness 

I absolutely love Gina's Pilates class at the Kirkland 24 Hour fitness on Thursday's. I have been a regular for about a year and I still find the class challenging, it works parts of your body that you always neglect. It is a great full body strength workout and if you are a member at 24 Hour Fitness the class is FREE (well sort of).

Zumba w/ Michaela - 24 Hour Fitness

This is an awesome workout! You shake you butt for 60 minutes and the last thing you are worried about is how you look because you are burning close to 500 calories. This class will up your energy and make you smile. Michaela is great and she really can shake it, the music is current and she is constantly changing the dances! Note: This class is always full so be prepared to get really close to your neighbors. :) 

Zumba w/ Quincy - Issaquah Community Center

This Zumba class is not as high intensity as the 24 Hour Fitness class but is still a great workout. The class is usually small, the demographic is a little older and the music is more classic Zumba music. Quincy is a great instructor, she is so encouraging. My favorite part of the class is when you get to put on a belly dancing skirt, believe me you will feel like a certified belly dancer. :) The first class is free, and the drop in rate is ONLY $6. You can also buy a package of 10 classes for $50, you can't beat those prices and the class is well worth the money. 

Barre3 - Barre3 Bellevue

This is an amazing class that combines ballet with yoga and pilates. This is the most challenging class I have taken in awhile. You are working muscles you haven't work in years, my legs were shaking 25 minutes into the class. I was lucky enough to do this class for FREE, when it first opened. The classes are a little expensive but well worth it, if you love the unique workout. It is a really great studio and they offer daycare for $5. Be on the lookout for locations opening up all around Seattle, because they usually offer FREE classes and discounted packages.

Hooping w/ Amanda - Sirin Hoops

This a great class to do w/ a group of girlfriends because it takes your back to your childhood. I took the beginners hoop class and it was so much fun, Amanda's excitement for hooping was contagious! The hour long class is a great low impact workout, you learn how to walk & hoop, hoop around your neck & arms and even dance while hooping. The best part was I was really sore the next day!! The first class is FREE and each additional class is $15. 

Yoga Classes - Luluemon

Lululemon offers yoga classes at their Bellevue Square location every Sunday at 9:30. The great part is they feature a different studio every month and all the classes are FREE. This is how I found about Fly Fitness my new favorite studio. I have been to these classes a number of times and have never left disappointed. I really enjoy being able to try different studios in the area without doing any research. I recommend joining their Facebook FanPage so you can get all the information.