Definitely my favourite part of season five.

Summer List

I haven't made a what-I-should-do-this-season list in a very long time. So here we go! Summer is upon us and goddamit, I'm gonna have some fun. I encourage you to make your own list as well. 

1. Eat a Coney Island Red Hot from Feltman's.
2. Finally visit The Met Breuer and The Frick and The Cloisters since I've never been.
3. Ride bikes around the top half of Central Park since I've never seen any part above 79th street.
4. Wear dark lipstick with all white outfits.
5. Eat the whipped steak tartare at Employees Only.
6. Go to the beach at least ten times.
7. Go swimming at least ten times.
8. Make an apple pie from scratch.
9. Take Baby Dog to a dog bar to meet other dogs.
10. Lay out with the kids and look at the stars.

See how simple that was? I know I can't force you, but you should really make one of your own.

Hahahah, the last thing he says is my favourite.

I never really appreciated this scene when I first saw it, but it’s really grown on me. The song, too. 

When You Find Out the World Is Against You by Kelly Oxford - A Review

You're already aware of how much I like Kelly Oxford. And her new book is equally as good as her last one. If anything, it's a little more intimate than her first one in a way that I didn't expect. Here are my favourite parts:

• The part about how she's a teenager going through depression and compares her mother at home with her to the movie Misery made me laugh so much, maybe also because it reminds me so much of that great Who's The Boss episode, too. 
• The chapter about how she takes Bea out of Montessori school because the teacher is a bitch is so funny and great - partially because of my own, personal hatred of daycare institutions and partially because it's so relatable to hear about. I wish there were more chapters on Bea in general.
• Hahahah, the line, "Did she just say I have NO CLASS WITH NO DOODLE?" in response to an internet troll.
• This exchange with her adolescent son:

Wait, he was calling a girl?

"Henry, are you into girls already?"

He smiles, "All day and all night, son!"

• The entire chapter about her family friend John passing away was too much to handle in one sitting. It took me a few tries to get through it, not because reading about people handling death is so hard, but moreso because her description of this man and her relationship to him in her youth is so descriptive and empathetic. It's beautifully written and my favourite part of it was the final paragraph, "Bea runs over to me and holds my hand. I look down at the table set up at the entrance of the hall. On it rests John's hat, his Royal Order of the Horn leather necklace, and the condolences book. I touch the feather on the hat, then the necklace. Bea does the same. Then I look over at the condolences book and I read, "I remember first meeting John in the 1960s; he came through the door at Dyke's cabin and said, 'Hi, I'm John, the good guy.'" And I cry a flood of tears."
• This 1000% relatable paragraph:

"I've always felt like rape is the invisible vampire that I had to run from, if vampires were real and everywhere, all the time. Because I've never been raped, I've always waited for it, wondering where and when. Dark parking lots, elevators, bathrooms, hotel rooms, my front yard, my bed. I feel it could happen. Anytime. All the time. I'm ready to fight, but I'm almost forty. I'm fucking tired, you guys."

• The absolute best way she could have ended the book:

"I don't know when this will all stop. Or when women will truly be equals. Sometimes I feel so alone, and other times I open my mouth or reach out and find that everyone is feeling the same way that I'm feeling. And what the world is sharing is maybe the thing that helps us see that the world isn't really against us after all. Maybe."

It was a really great book, you should check it out.

I could watch this on a loop for the rest of time.

“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”

— Fred Rogers

Seattle, Washington

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Seattle and it almost seems insane that it took me this long to visit the Pacific Northwest. I mean, I've never even been to Vancouver, for Christ's sake - which seems weird for a Canadian. Shouldn't we see all of our own country before we venture outward? Maybe that's another post, that idea.

In any case, I loved Seattle. The rain never lasted longer than twenty minutes, and the sun always came out immediately afterward. It kind of reminded me of the way it rains in the islands - with the most severe storm happening one minute, and clear skies and sunbathing the next. Makes no sense. 

Seattle Great Wheel

If you ever have any desire to go to this fine city, I beg you to wait until mid-April. Clearly I'm biased in saying that since that's when I went, but my God... I can't imagine it being as lovely any other time of year. Every single cherry blossom is in bloom and it's in the heart of the tulip festival season (more on that below). Anyway, I'm rambling. Here were my highlights.

Walla Walla onion rings

These are Walla Walla onion rings. They're named after a county in Washington state that grows them, and they are the sweetest of all onions that you can find. I wanted to try them especially 'cause they're harder to find (maybe impossible) on the east coast, and thank God I did. Best homemade onion rings OF LIFE.

The Pike Place Market was the first thing I went to in Seattle, mainly because bloggers won't shut up about it online. And honestly, it was a pretty good time.

Endless rows of flowers for sale and fresh fish/meats/cannolis/fruit/vegetables were the types of things sold at the market, a lot of touristy  small shops as well. Nothing crazy special, but a nice walk. The real reason it stands out in my mind as memorable was because of this place.

...where I proceeded to eat this.

The chowder itself was great and all, but I think it was the bin full of free oysters crackers (and no oyster cracker monitor) that really made my eyes bulge. So, so good. Oyster crackers make almost anything heavenly. The market as a whole? Decent, but don't spend more than $20 there 'cause you'll likely regret it later.

I also managed to eat lunch at this lunch-only place Il Corvo that has a different pasta of the day each day, and how does that not sound amazing? This was the special the day that I went: Cresti Di Gallo with pancetta, spring onions, tomato & chiles.

I really tried to do as many Seattle-centric things as possible. And the thing that I associate most with Seattle is coffee (as I'm sure 1000% of the rest of the world does). But the thing is, I hate coffee. (Not, like, Coffee Crisp, don't be stupid.) But I mean, this is how I react to coffee.

But when it comes to real, adult-like coffee, I don't get it. I don't need it the way that other people seem to (or claim to) and I've never really understood the appeal. (Granted maybe that'll change the day that I get a real job and have to wake up at 6am like most of the world and need the caffeine to wake up? Ugh. I hope that day never comes.) IN ANY CASE, I wanted to try what other people  thought was "good coffee." So a few Yelps later, I ended up at Moore Coffee Shop and ordered this beauty.

Cappacino from Moore Coffee Shop, Seattle

Will I say that it converted me into a full fledged adult ready for her 401k? God no. But look how pretty!

I also saw the Fremont Troll (which is basically just a big troll under a bridge). Why did I want to see it? I don't know, Seattle's not that crazy of a city, man. Sometimes you gotta see a troll for kicks.

I also tried a Dutch Baby! I've wanted to try one ever since that Bob's Burger episode where Linda gets real excited about ordering one since they're hard to come by.

Apparently Dutch Babies originated in Seattle, so I figured I ought to find one so I went to The Original Pancake House in Ballard to eat one. Verdict? Big. I should've put a dime or something on the table for scale. It tasted pretty great, but I did slather it in butter and syrup and ate approximately 1/16 of it before begging for my bill. More of a "let's get one for the table" type of dish, but good nonetheless.

Dutch baby, baby

Oh! Also, you know the house from Up? It exists and it's here.

It's hard to see from the photo, but it's housed between two large commercial buildings. It was owned by Edith Macefield and you can read her whole story here, if you so please.

Okay, now onto the best part of the trip. I have forever wanted to visit a tulip farm. I can't remember how I first heard that they existed, but I saw a photo of one a long time ago and stuffed this dream in the back of my mind intending to make it a reality some day. I don't think I need to explain why I've wanted to see this in person. I mean.

I refuse to describe how beautiful it was. That memory is mine and mine alone and I can only implore you to visit one some day as well.

Some other things I did that I didn't photograph as much: visiting Kerry Park to see the skyline, eating a luxurious meal at Canlis in Queen Anne while listening to Taylor Swift being played on piano (and having one of the best salads I've ever had), walking the beautiful grounds at the University of Washington, trying AND LOVING steak tartare for the first time on Earth, eating all the oysters and having seriously one of the best poutines of my life at Elysian Bar. Look at this monster.

Poutine at Elysian Bar, Seattle

The truffle beef poutine consists of house cut fries, cheese curds (real curds, yes), green onions & "truffle scented beef glace." I'm not sure if "glace" is just a typo on the menu for "glaze," but who knows - maybe "glace" is just some sort of magical element that I'd never heard of since this poutine TASTES AMAZING.

It was such a great trip and I'm beyond thankful that I got to experience it all. 

Couple Goals

http://mmmsimpsons.tumblr.com/post/158366448326

Canlis Salad

I recently went to Seattle (oh there's a post coming soon about it) and had one of the tastiest salads of my life. As I was eating it, I commented to the waitress how much I loved it and then she came back with this handy little postcard that had the recipe on it. How great is that?! I wish more restaurants would adopt this policy.

It sounds so simple, but I promise you it's ridiculously good. Especially if you're a fan of lemon.