Are you gonna eat that?

Gone are the days of 6th grade when my lady friends and I congregated in Marge's bright yellow kitchen and ate turkey sandwiches with American cheese on bagels, Doritos, Guzzlers, and Coke for an after school snack (you know, just a little sometime to tide us over before dinner). These days there seem to be a lot of food rules. They're not new, but the all this food philosophy floats around my head and makes it damn complicated to eat an innocent snack.

The Paleo diet, which I know little about, is endorsed by Crossfit. And we all know I have a crush on Crossfit, but their food philosophy seems ridiculously restrictive (and probably downright unhealthy for a pregnant lady, although I know some preginis follow it). The foundation of the Paleo lifestyle is: Eat Like a Cave(wo)man. Eat meat, and lots of it. Consider investing in a meat freezer to store your large quantities of organic, free range beef, pork, duck, chicken, veal, venison, and rooster. Take out a second mortgage on your home to fund your meat consumption. Eat fish, vegetables, eggs, and some fruits. Avoid sugar, dairy, and wheat at all costs. And don't eat the bun. Don't even think about eating the bun. While you're at it, reduce caffeine and alcohol.

Okay, so there's one diet that I'm not even gonna attempt. Where does my nightly Skinny Cow fit into that regimen? Maybe the food rules that Michael Pollan lays out for the obese American population are a little more lenient. The much-hyped author's philosophy is: If it grows on a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don't. I like some of his advice, such as: Cook. I can do that. I even enjoy it...especially in my slow cooker! Also, shop the perimeter of the food aisle and don't eat foods that are advertised. Again, avoid sugar like the Dickens. But I can't get down with his "S rule": no snacks, seconds, or sweets unless it's on a day beginning with S. Skinny Cow consumption does not happen twice a week!

Here's a food rule grey area: nuts. Nuts are good (Paleo). Except when they're bad (Weight Watchers). Juice (tastes delicious!) but its sugar content is on par with candy. Lunch meat is high in protein, low in fat, but is full of nitrates, nitrites, and sodium.

These days I'm subject to the pregnant lady food rules as well: no uncooked sushi (whassup eel rolls), no soft cheese (goodbye brie), nuked lunch meats (sort of negates the concept of "cold cuts"), limited caffeine and no booze (except on days that begin with F and are after your first tri-mester).

Okay so the last one is my own rule, but so what. My philosophy is: Avoid Doritos whenever possible (curse you, Super Bowl!). Eat fruit, vegetables, eggs, and lean meat often. The fewer ingredients, the better. Cook. Eat a bagel, but only in NYC.

picking up the tab

My personal deficit may not be near the U.S. bajillion dollar hole, but I still feel that I've been burning through money at an alarming rate. A friend recently noted that since we're not going out (i.e. drinking) as much, we're probably saving money. One would think. But instead of sitting at home learning how to knit, I'm buying a new Mac desktop and Herman Miller dining chairs and clothes that fit.

There is a word for hunkering down and investing in your home when you're pregnant, and it's called "nesting". But from what I've read, most people clean out cabinets and fold extraordinary amounts of laundry during this phase (which tends to occur right before the baby arrives). This period of buying high-priced home goods seems more like "indulging". My excuse for the Herman Miller chairs, which have a lifespan longer than my own, is that Dave and I sit on mismatched IKEA crap. And we only have three chairs. When we have guests over, the rotten egg has to sit on our exersize ball or a patio chair. I plan to graduate from my 20s with better furniture than I entered with, and IKEA items are the first to go. And my sis works for Herman Miller and can get me a sweet discount. Sisters are the best.

And my excuse for the refurbished iMac? I need it for Good Press! I've graduated to my new studio (which I also bought Herman Miller furniture for- oops!). And my MacBook, which is love, just doesn't cut it for graphic design projects. It just doesn't have the mega-hertz...or whatever. This puppy overheats when I download more than 14 photos! It's a great computer...for internet, iTunes, and Skyping (my other new, and free, hobby).

As far as going out- we still are. We went to happy hour at Oliver's Twist last week to drink up for Haiti (the bar donated the night's proceeds to relief efforts). I ordered a "Bartender's Fancy" and some bacon and bleu cheese-stuffed dates. Dave had his usual old-fashioned (which is maybe the handsomest drink ever, topped with a cherry and orange zest). Like I mentioned before, we have to stock up on social events while we can! At least we got happy hour prices...

Amigos

My awesome weekend started with a trip to Ballard Ave with Dave. This historic strip, once referred to as Old Ballard, used to be inhabited by the longshoremen who bellied up for a pint after fishing salmon all day. These days, it's tough to find an true salty dog on Ballard Ave. If you are between 21 and 45, this is The Place to Be. I've actually spent the last three Friday nights on Ballard Ave, going to dinner and seeing shows at the Tractor. I feel the urge to maximize our time out, especially to see live music, since I got a bun in the oven.

We didn't see music this time, we just met up with our friends Jeff and Caycee, Yoshiko and Joe at the Matador, a standard after work Mexican joint with sexy waitresses. They serve Kalibur, which is Guiness' non-alcoholic brew. It's actually pretty good and wins hands down over O'Douls, which I had the misfortune of drinking at Christmas. It's kinda tough to pass on the margaritas while everyone is licking the salt off theirs, but it's for the greater good.

Saturday morning, Dave joined me for his first Crossfit class and collected the $10 that I bet he wouldn't actually go (especially considering that minor hangover). Crossfit is honestly one of my favorite things in life right now. I'm trying to justify increasing my membership (in addition to my gym). Dave also goes to a gym so between us, we are members of three gyms. Oddly enough, we use them all.

For some reason, we haven't gone to brunch together in ages. It's probably because we go out to dinner on Saturdays, then I feel guilty the next morning and eat cottage cheese for breakfast. Not this weekend! We got Americanos from Lighthouse and then gourmet breakfast sandwiches from Homegrown, my favorite sandwich spot in Fremont. Dave had to be all high-fallutin and order a crabcake, egg, bacon and cheese. I just got the regular egg, bacon and cheese on a brioche and savored every bite.


Last night involved a Mexican-themed dinner party with more friends. Dave's faux mustache was a hit, as were Brent's veggie and chipotle chicken enchiladas. I think I ate too much. Okay, I realize that I'm "eating for two", but it's important to keep in mind I'm not eating for two adults. And we all know, it's a slippery slope to sweatpants.

Today I ran at Green Lake, got a Mexican hot chocolate with a girlfriend, and finally learned how to Skype! I Skyped with my friend Jess in Amsterdam and my parents back east. Now I want to Skype with everyone.

The good news is I saw a lot of friends this weekend, even friends in Europe. The bad news is I really need to lay off the Mexican food.

you look like a good time

Last weekend was my "coming out" as a wedding invitation designer. Me and my artwork were featured at a super sweet, non-cheesy wedding event. The party was held at a renovated old movie theater in Georgetown. Vendors included aerialistas, letterpress designers, a mobile brick oven pizzeria, a paealla-centric caterer, cupcake bakeries, Adam Smith (my favorite wedding photographer and all-around nice guy), DJs with envieable taste, mixologists... You know the usual suspects, but with way better lighting and way fewer handouts mass printed on neon-colored Kinkos paper (yeah, I'm looking at you Wedding Expo 2010).


I had a great time, and I'm not just saying that to be a good sport. The thought of standing up and shmoozing for 7 hours was frankly daunting. And I haven't featured my art like this since college. Although my assistant Dave totally helped set up, delivered emergency hot chocolate, and hung around for emotional support (or was it the free food and booze?), I didn't know if I'd be twiddling my thumbs after hour 3. I wasn't. The vendors were free to roam around, snack, drink, refresh in the "green room" (really just a storage room with hot pizza and other provisions..but it was my first green room encounter, and therefore utterly cool). There was some sweet band action, too, which made the time fly by.


My day job has helped groom my scmoozing skills. I'm sure working in customer service from '96-'03 doesn't hurt. I like talking to people and I feel good about my work, so interacting with potential clients is no biggie. We'll see what shakes out and even if nothing does, it was nice to get my feet wet.


And for anyone who hasn't planned a wedding, there is an untapped circuit of free parties out there that cater to betrothed couples. Caterers, pastry chefs, and bartenders who want to work your wedding practically throw crostini, bellinis, and macaroons in your face. Dave and I ate like royalty when we were casually "doing research" for our wedding, and this event reminded me of the treasure trove of complimentary food and drink out there for anyone planning an "event".

You Are Here: 2009 in Places

According to the Chinese, 2009 was the year of the ox. For me it was the year of the kettlebell, vodka gimlets, and marrying my wonderful husband. Although the year was pretty good to me, and my regrets are limited, I'm pretty excited to close the door on the aughts and move on the the teens (tweens?? 10-12 aren't really teens yet). Here's the top five places of 2009.

Greenwood
Okay, so our 'hood was terrorized by a serial arsonist this fall, but this same community is responsible for delights such as the Oroweat discount bread store, Labels consignment shop, and an expanded, overpriced, yet utterly convenient Ken's Market. One
of my small pleasures in life is watching the high school employees change the specials and messages on the store's marquee. In an era of stupidly fast technology, it's nice to see someone manually change old-timey letters, one by one.

By the way, the arsonist was caught and two local artists recently unveiled a mural to support the notion that good (public art) prevails over evil (fire).


Astoria, OR
A perk about being a planner for a consulting firm means we get to travel around the Pacific Northwest for jobs. This year brought me to Astoria, OR, to help develop the Port's strategic plan. You may be aware that I used to live in Astoria, NY. Whereas an authentic Greek bakery in Astoria, NY provided the cake from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", Astoria, OR is where Goonies, Free Willy, and Kindergarten Cop were filmed. True fact. It's a super cute seaside town that has recently been restored from oblivion, with the downtown shops still in tact from days of yore. My favorite restaurant is Gunderson's Cannery Cafe, where you can eat a damn good salmon sandwich while perched over the massive Columbia River.

Rancho Bravo Taco Truck
If 2008 was the year of El Chupacabra (a local Mexican joint staffed by the semi-rude and totally-tattoo'd), 2009 was the year of Rancho Bravo Taco Truck (run by Mexican grandmas). Sure, we had to give up some of the luxuries of El Chupa- jukebox, roof, margaritas that practically flowed from the tap- but what we got in return is worth it. Delicious, authentic, and WARM carne asada burritos, equally delicious chicken quesadillas, quacamole, tamales, where two people can eat happily for under $10. It's totally recession- and stomach-friendly. So what if you have to eat in your car?

Crossfit
Crossfit is not only a place, it is a state of mind...or I'm sure that's what the founder believes. Maybe not, but I do love the class workouts and the camaraderie. I'd been flirting with the idea of doing Crossfit since my Astoria days, was put off by the price and inconvenience of going to two gyms, but I joined in 2009 and it's totally worth it. I mean, you don't get this hard body by just eating burritos, right?

My bathtub
"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them". I have totally embraced baths as a way to decompress after a long day. It's a daily habit that I picked up from my mom. They warm me up, chill me out. I often read magazines (my other great mindless pleasure) and think about my dream bathtub, which has a place for my beverage and is ceramic, not some plastic "bath-fitter" crap like the one in our rental condo.

Apparently I'm not a girl of luxurious needs. Change the marquee sign, feed me cart food, draw me a hot bath and I'm good. Here's to more pleasurable moments and places in Twenty-ten!

my own private studio

I've mentioned before that my studio leaves something to be desired. "Studio" is a misnomer. I actually do most of my artwork at my employers' office, because I have a big drawing table, a mayline (a ruler that slides up and down the table so I can draw straight lines), a big flatbed scanner, two computer monitors, and a sweet printer. I usually go into the office on the weekends, crank up my jams, and hang out by myself. It's not so bad. Once in a while a co-worker comes in, we exchange words and they go on their merry way.

However, I've been burning the midnight oil on a few awesome side projects and got burnt out being at the office 8 days a week. After no respite from the daily grind (bus trips, downtown antics, etc) I decided there needs to be a third place: not home, not the office, but a studio. Just like I had in college. I went to my one-stop shop, Craigslist, to scope out my options. My requirements are that it's cheap and close. Since my Good Press business stuff is just a side gig, I can't justify paying more a studio than what I make on artwork.

I found a listing that seemed to fit my criteria: $150/month including utilities, with a month-to-month lease, and just a few stops away on the bus. Plus they have free parking and it's in a legit neighborhood. I checked out the space and it is no bigger than a gumdrop. But it has a window and some (faux) wood floors and tall ceilings. The guy who operates the building (billed as a venue to "help get your business off your kitchen table") showed me all the security features. It felt like a place I could set up shop. And if it doesn't pay for itself, I could easily fold up shop.

While it's kind of frustrating to pay rent for a studio on top rent for an apartment, I think it's the right thing to do at this point. It just seems kinda shady to use my employer's internet and electricity and ink to run Good Press. In an ideal world, we'd own a home that was big enough for my very own studio. Until that time, the rented studio is pretty enticing.

And I have no photos of the space, so enjoy these wintry images I foraged on the internet.

uncommon goods

I created this invite for my friend Annette, an event planner whom I met through the grapevine when planning our wedding last summer. She asked me to create a web-friendly invitation for a Seattle-area wedding vendor event....and she asked me to be a featured wedding invitation vendor. The event is basically the anti-wedding show. The invite concept was completely open, and I got inspired by some well-designed gin bottle labels. Gotta love that Hendrick's.

Annette and her compatriots really dig the invite, and asked if we could print it in addition to emailing. I'm blushing!

I have been clocking some serious hours in my studio (which leaves something to be desired, more on the shortcomings later). Today I potentially overcame a major mental road block on Ashley and Jeff's wedding invite. I'll be back tomorrow with fresh eyes and a clear head to clean it up. My Saturday and sanity were saved by Pandora and a stupidly good tofu sandwich from Dahlia Bakery. I didn't know tofu could taste sinful.