West Elm - Love

I know it seems like I've all but given up on this blog considering the long breaks in between posts, but I honestly haven't.

There's just a part of me, lately, that feels like living in the real world instead of behind the lens of the camera. I've decided to put the camera down for a bit and just live life. It's freeing, and at the same time, bitter sweet. There have been moments when I wished I would have brought my camera along to capture those belly aching, laugh so hard moments that seem to creep up whenever we as a family are out and about. There are times when Alex is bent out of shape over one thing or another and I wished I'd had my camera to capture her pouty, scrunched up face. Sometimes, as good as it may be, the phone on my camera just doesn't do the moment justice.

This past weekend we went to visit the brand new West Elm in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. What a remarkable place. Even though for years now I've inhaled all of their catalogs and drooled over their website, I was beginning to think the whole thing was a myth. Now my dreams have come true. West Elm is here and it isn't a mirage.

The store is beautiful, just like I thought it would be. The goods are lovely {and some, a bit pricey}, though not surprisingly so. My only disappointment, it was only one floor. What the what?!?

Is it possible to fall madly in love with an ottoman?

There were several items at West Elm that I wanted desperately to bring home, including these ceramic pieces. The checkout line wound around the store and with the children, I thought better than to keep them waiting in a store full of breakable objects, so I left without buying a darn thing - dang! I said good-bye to my love, Ottoman, and also a "see you soon" to the ceramic pieces. The Ottoman was $600 so I don't think I'll be buying that, ever. I'm now on the hunt for its doppelganger. Eh, love is fickle.

After West Elm, and a lunch break at Whole Foods, we took the -- now don't giggle -- S. L. U. T. {South Lake Union Transit} to downtown Seattle.  

These hats were a big hit with me and the girls, but Jon wasn't having them so these stayed at the store too. In hindsight, I think they are a tad Jerseylicious for a five and eight year old.

Still... so cute. HA!

Vegas

Only in Vegas will you find me in a photo booth wearing a cowboy hat and apparently throwing up gang signs. My husband was right along with me, joker hat and all. What were we thinking!?

We were in Vegas over the weekend to attend a friend's wedding and boy was it fun. Jon and I are not gamblers so we didn't touch a slot machine or card table, instead we did the tourist thing, walking the strip checking out the shops and hotels. Is it me or is everything just way over the top crazy in Vegas?

I couldn't help taking pictures of everything in our hotel room even though I've stayed in plenty. Don't you just love the light embedded in this mirror? Snap snap!!... had to take pictures of it!

I really dislike having my picture taken. I'm trying to look natural and instead I look like I'm in severe pain. Trust me, I wasn't in pain, I was having fun and loving every moment of our trip.

My Gomer Pyle was in full force, "Gaawwwwly, you can buy alcohol out of a Slurpee machine... in the daytime? (Pickup jaw from floor).

Leave it to me to stop to admire the sweet treats.

Yes, my eyes are closed and that's completely normal for me.

The wedding couldn't have been more beautiful set under the clear night sky, moonlight dancing across the water. Cheers to the happy couple.

City Mice

Before reading this post, sit down because you might be here for a while. You might even want to grab a cup of coffee to keep awake. This is going to be a long post covering events of yesterday evening and today.

Yesterday Sammy was sick, again, so we had to cancel a long awaited sleepover she was having with a friend. We intended to let the girls camp in the backyard for an extra special slumber party, but it was not to be. After much consideration, and a little bit of a spring in Sammy's step, by late afternoon we'd decided the slumber party was back on, this time with just our family. We cracked open the brand new six person, octagonal tent, Jon had bought a few days ago and started assembling it with a great deal of enthusiasm... at first. After an hour or so, it became all too clear that the tent was a lot smarter than us. We gave up. As much as I hate to admit it, it was just too damn hard and we were tired of wrestling with it. After all, we are, City Mice, and know not the ways of erecting tents and such, instead we are much better at erecting a suitcase in which to place our travel clothes for hotel stays.

Despite our pathetic attempts at outdoorsy fun, we settled on a simple backyard fire complete with Nutella S'mores.

The girls camped out in the family room instead of under the stars.

By morning, we were all hungry for a big breakfast {fighting with a tent will make you ravenous) so I made these Pikelets from Donna Hay. I'll have to provide the recipe later as I am too tired to type out the recipe now.

After breakfast it was off to explore our sunny city. As you probably know by now, it just isn't a family outing without a trip to a long board store. And yes, Jon did manage to buy another one -- with our encouragement of course.

Then it was off to downtown Seattle where we explored the open market and cavernous stores and eateries.

 

After the girls had ice-cream at Pike Place Market, we stopped in at the Chocolate Box - a cruel thing to do after the girls had already eaten their ice cream. Their hungry eyes wanted more treats but we just couldn't bring ourselves to give them more, so we left with having only a few samples.

Then it was off to Tune, a high-end audio store where we checked out a few turntables. And yes, I did explain to the children what the big black discs were and why they were going around and around on the flat plate.

We walked to the Olympic Sculpture Park where we rested and also played.

We listened to the gurgle of Seattle's underbelly through the large orifice in the center of this installment. Okay, maybe it wasn't Seattle's underbelly, but if you had to imagine it, it would probably sound like the glurp whoosh bubble bubble coming out of this contraption.

The City Mice showing off their sharp teeth and claws.

After taking the photos we saw the sign that read, "Do Not Touch." Oops.

I call the above image: Man, Red Chair and Striped Handbag. HA!!

It was such a beautiful day and this bride picked the perfect day to start her new life. I apologized to her for taking her picture but told her that I thought she looked gorgeous. I don't think she minded what with that radiant smile of hers.

This orange bike is fabulous.

Finally we arrived home after a long day walking the hard pavement of downtown Seattle. Jon made possibly the best ever iced coffee drink I've ever wrapped my lips around. But because it contains: condensed and evaporated milk along with concentrated coffee, I don't know how many more I'll be having -- it was extremely decadent. My husband knows me too well. I suppose I was supposed to sip it... I didn't. I chugged it. Yummy.

We City Mice were wiped out by the end of the evening -- well, except for me. After having that coffee I'll be up all night, hence the long post.