PNW To Do List

So much to do I had to start a list...

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is happening now and the photos look amazing. I think we'll have to brave the traffic and go on a weekend. Apparently helicopter rides are the best way to see it. 

We've been talking about a trip to Victoria, B.C. with Brent and Molly for the past year. Clipper ride, whale watching, wine tasting... I'm hoping this is the year. Maybe 4th of July/Canada Day?

I've been wanting to join the Commencement Bay Rowing Club for months. I need to take the classes first, but I'm eager to get started. My hip needs to heal well (and faster)...

I can't believe we have lived here 18 months and still have gone diving in the Puget Sound. I'm disappointed in us. The water temps definitely scare us off- won't be like the Bahamas. 

Dave Matthews Band comes to the Gorge Amphitheatre every September. Tickets were sold out last year by the time we started looking into it. I want to make sure we don't miss it this year. 

Coveting {Shopbop Sale}

Shopbop sale is my favorite sale of year! I've been loading up my cart for two days. Needless to say, it is full. Now it's time to make final decision. Here are the current contenders...

L*Space Haute Tank Bikini Top

Westward Leaning Pioneer 1 Sunglasses

LNA Deep V Tee

BB Dakota Teven Denim Tank

Soludos Otomi Embroidered Platform Espadrilles 

Joie A la Plage Nice Thong Sandals

Schutz Erstellen Toe Ring Slides

Serpui Marie Kim Seaside Clutch

Levi's 501 Shorts

Paige Denim Transcend Verdugo Ultra Skinny (Black Shadow)

Weekend Update

Finally, a weekend with Brady! He's been traveling a ton for work so we were super excited to have a weekend at home. Especially since the weather was perfect... sunshine and 70 degrees!

We went out for dinner and drinks on Friday night. Narrows Brewery and Boathouse 19 are my favorite places in the Spring/Summer because the views are incredible. 

Patio love in the sunshine

Cider :)

Worth the 90 minute wait

Gertie's lemonade, obviously 

Octopus tacos for a starter

Pretty decent view

Cajun fries!

Brent called as we were driving home from dinner so we turned around and went to spend the rest of the night with Brent and Molly. Somehow we always end up in their garage playing some type of drinking game #foreveryoung

The opponents 

Girls vs. Boys

Saturday, we went for lunch at Don's Ruston Market & Deli and walked through Point Defiance Park. My hip started giving me trouble (I think I've been overdoing it lately) so we went home and I took a nap/watched movies. Literally, the perfect Saturday. 

Doesn't look like much, but the food (and milkshakes!) are great

VW in the PNW

Rose Gardens

I would love to live here

Sunday was boring. Cleaning, laundry, another walk...

Weekly Wardrobe

Feels so good to be back at work and finally wearing flats again :)

Monday

Banana Republic Sweater (old, similar)

Kut from the Kloth Pants

Bernie Mev Slip-Ons

Tuesday

Babaton Sweater
Paige Denim Pants
Tory Burch Caroline Flats (old, similar)

Wednesday

Ann Taylor Top (old, similar)
Paige Denim Pants
Sam Edelman Felicia Flats

Thursday

GAP Tee (old, similar)
GAP Cardigan (old, similar)
Club Monaco Pants
Tieks

Friday

Treasure & Bond Boyfriend Shirt
Paige Denim Pants
Tieks

March Favorites

Beauty

1 | Cover Fx Mattifying BB Gel is my go-to when I wear foundation. It's a rare occurrence because I don't like the feeling of make-up sitting on my skin, but this is definitely the most comfortable base I've found. Feels like nothing. 

2 | Beauty Blender is always a favorite, but constantly overlooked. I forget about it since I use it so frequently. No better way to blend foundation/concealer. I've had mine over a year- it still works well and cleans up nicely. 

3 | Too Faced Natural Eye Palette is a classic. Shimmer and matte shades with great pigmentation. I don't wear eyeshadow often, but when I do it's always neutral tones. This is really the only palette I need. 

4 | Simple Cleansing Micellar Water is my new favorite way to cleanse in the morning. It leaves your face clean and hydrated. I don't think it works well to remove makeup so I'm still using a traditional cleanser at night. 

5 | Purple Nail Polish (OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender & Revlon Hold Em) has been the only thing on my nails this past month (and Essie Sugar Daddy, which is my default). I like to alternate between light and dark nails. 

Fashion

1 | Paige Denim 'Transcend Skyline' (Black Shadow) are the most comfortable pants ever. No surprise here. I rave about this brand every month. I love this style (and color) so much I had to purchase a third pair. 

2 | The White Company Cardigan (sold out, similar) is a versatile piece in my wardrobe. I've worn it to work and with Lululemon yoga pants... can't say that about many other tops. Plus, it washes up really well. A quick iron and it looks like new. 

3 | 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Mini Pashli' Satchel (Lapis) was great investment. I got this bag in 2014. It has held up so well and is still one of my favorite bags. The size is perfect for anytime you want to be hands-free. 

4 | Bernie Mev 'Verona' Slip-Ons have been essential since returning to work. I wasn't able to wear my usual flats so these were  a life-saver. They're a subtle sneaker (not too unprofessional) and very comfortable. 

5 | ASOS Mirrored Sunglasses (similar) are the best affordable sunglasses. I got them last year and still love them. They don't feel cheap and the style is so cute. I get loads of compliments from girls... guys think they're ugly. 

Miscellaneous 

1 | Bachelorette is hilarious! Molly let me borrow her DVD a couple weeks ago and I've already watched it three times. It's like Bridesmaids, but much better (in my opinion). So many one-liners, so little time.

2 | Bath & Body Works 'Endless Weekend' Candle is a must-have this Spring. I'm currently burning my third one. It smells very similar to 'Apple Flower', which I was obsessed with last S/S. I think they may have just renamed it. 

3 | Bath & Body Works Lavender Chamomile Pillow Mist was a last-ditch effort to help with my insomnia since the accident. I think time has helped the most, but I do love this scent. I spray my pillow, the duvet, and my rocking chair... pretty much any fabric it will stick to. 

4 | Tazo Peppermint Tea has also become apart of my nighttime routine. I end each evening with a cup of tea and a book (while sitting in my rocking chair). It's very relaxing. I actually look forward to it now. 

5 | www.unroll.me has saved my inbox. It's definitely the quickest way the unsubscribe to mass e-mails. I unsubscribed to 94! It also offers e-mail "roll-up" which sends you one e-mail with links to subscriptions you want to continue receiving.  

The faves of the faves

Weekend Update

It was a quiet weekend at home. Brady has been out of town so I've been flying solo. 

I went for a walk on Friday afternoon. The weather was perfect and everything is in bloom. This is my favorite time of year in the PNW.

"My neighborhood"

Hogwarts

Molly came over Friday night. We watched Bachelorette- a Molly recommendation that has become one of my favorites. It's hilarious and I love Kirsten Dunst more each time I watch it. 

Saturday and Sunday looked pretty similar. I ran errands, went for another walk, and even worked out (using this term very loosely these days).

Breakfast and coloring time 

Our grocery store is the cutest

Evening in the gym

Pumping the 10's

Blue skies, blue water

All-Time Favorite Books

A few years ago I made a New Year's resolution to read one book each month. The first year I had to put forth (a major) effort to make sure I hit 12 books by the end of December. Now, reading has become apart of my routine and the moment I finish one book I'm on to the next. 

I think this will be a record-breaking year (one benefit of limited mobility the past 6 weeks). Recently I realized, with all this reading, there are a few books which have set the bar and made it very difficult to add anything new to the 'Top Reads' section of this blog.

You may notice a theme with these books... a personal storyline set in historic times. FYI I'm slightly obsessed with WWII.

1 | Euphoria is set in the 1930's and is loosely based on the life of Margaret Mead. It tells the story of travel, love, and tragedy in a page-turning storyline. It takes about 30 pages to really get into it and figure out what's going on. Don't give up on it.

2 | All The Light We Cannot See is a novel about WWII from the prospective of a young French girl and a German orphan boy. The protagonist's individual stories are captivating, but when their paths converge this book cannot be put down.  

3 | The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was given to me by my mother-in-law and it she really nailed it with this one. It takes place on Guernsey Island during the German occupation and follows the lives of the most endearing characters.

And for the other end of the spectrum. Here are a few hyped-up books I found disappointing...

The Vacationers

Everything I Never Told You

Little Bee