What's A Friend?

"Your Bored So You Cook?" - Hawa

My co-workers exact words to me when I

told her how much I have been wanting to home cook lately.

"Your bored so you cook?"

I normally enjoy cooking when it is for other people

but lately I have been cooking just to cook.

I think it is a sign of boredom of living at Northgate...

But nonetheless I have made some pretty fun dishes

with mostly local and organic ingredients!

I am crazy about tomatoes. More so with heirloom tomatoes!

What better way to eat them then with olive oil, sea salt and fresh pepper grilled?

My first try at homemade pesto.

I didn't measure anything but just threw in

the basil, pine nuts, olive oil and fresh Parmesan cheese.

The texture ended up being perfect if I may say so myself...

Veggie pasta... My favorite...

Mushroom soup with

lots of goodness and heart

for my Mom.

Words Of Wisdom From Mark Twain

It's A Cupcake Baby Shower...

Tricia's baby shower...

Perfected with Trophy Cupcakes!

Our baby shower wasn't really a baby shower

like most normal showers...

We didn't do silly games for one thing.

But we did:

Chat a lot about Baby Marcelina, ate lots of mini quiches

and devoured many cupcakes.

It was my sort of baby shower!

Congrats Tricia!!!

"There Is No Such Thing As An Unwritten Life, Only A Badly Written One..."

Rian Johnson: I love you.

First he directed and wrote Brick

and now The Brothers Bloom

and both films are complete brilliance.

The Brothers Bloom again

showcased Rian Johnson's eye for

light and smart humor.

And on top of that also

had an amazing sense

of style. Old timers style.

Along with a great soundtrack.

Just the way I like it...

I won't give up the story

but let me just say:

I'd like to collect hobbies...

Happiness + Intelligent People = Rare

I Gots Me A Breathe Owl Breathe Hug...

When I heard that Cataldo was opening for

Breathe Owl Breathe

I wasn't 100 percent sure if

I should even bother attending

after witnessing Breathe Owl Breathe

open for Yanni Tiersen last year...

(Entertaining but completely strange.)

But my love for Cataldo runs deep

and it had been too long since I had seen him live.

I've been obsessed with his new record

every since it came out last September.

When he got on stage and started belting out

Rock Of Calvary I knew in

an instant that it was completely worth it.

He mostly stuck to songs off Prison Boxing album

but it didn't matter.

I was charmed like I always am when

Eric Anderson is singing

and was heart broken when he got off stage.

I have come to the conclusion that my

appreciate for his music is sincere.

I am not attracted to him at all:

His music itself just gets to me.

I am a bonafide Cataldo fan as of tonight...

And then... And then... And than -

Breathe Owl Breathe got on stage.

I figured why leave when I had pay for the whole show right?

I was thinking to myself that the evening would be 'fun'

but that I wouldn't end up actually liking their music.

Wrong -

I loved their show this time around.

I even got excited when they performed the dragon song.

Maybe I wasn't open minded enough last year.

Maybe they just got more creative and talented since -

But whatever it was: I was won over.

I would recommend them to anyone.

Up beat, funny, and almost genius nerdy lyrics

(Honestly why didn't I enjoy them before?)

They were perfect.

I'd see them again -

Whether or not Cataldo is performing with them...

I can not describe how excited I was

when they started performing the 'Dragon' song...

Kinfolk: New Aspiration

I have seen Kinfolk's magazines at Anthropologie

but never thought to browse through its contents.

But after stumbling across their videos and spending hours on their amazing website

I might just need to go pick up their magazine.

What is Kinfolk you may ask?

I couldn't say it better than their own manifesto from their site:

Kinfolk is a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings.

We recognize that there is something about a table shared by friends,

not just a wedding or once-a-year holiday extravaganza,

that anchors our relationships and energizes us.

We have come together to create Kinfolk as our collaborative way of

advocating the natural approach to entertaining that we love.

Every element of Kinfolk—

the features, photography, and general aesthetics—

are consistent with the way we feel entertaining should be:

simple, uncomplicated, and less contrived.

Kinfolk is the marriage of our appreciation for art and design

and our love for spending time with family and friends.

 Honestly an inspiration of a way to live life.

If that alone doesn't get you curious or hooked like myself -

Check out the stunning videos below...

Can I live in this? Seems like the perfect gathering...

Pesto done in a simple manner.

My mouth is absolutely watering at the moment.

Now that is what I call romantic...

My Dreams Do...

Fresh Flours

I have become addicted to Ballard's Farmers Market.

And today I was introduced to another

fabulous cafe while wandering the market:

Fresh Flours

I didn't spend much time in the cafe itself

but their coffee was delicious.

Made to a perfection.

I paired my coffee with their

green tea and Azuki red bean muffin

which turned out to be the absolute highlight

of my morning.

Next Sunday I know where I am going to be

spending breakfast...

'I Want To Stand As Close To The Edge As I Can...'

Want To See Head And The Heart Play For Obama?

Honestly when I heard this I couldn't speak for a couple minutes...
Just a bit of a year ago I had seen them at
The Comet for five dollars.
Now to go to this President Barack Obama event without an invitation?
Over one thousand dollars.
Completely nuts.
And again: I couldn't be prouder.
Here's a few videos and I must say
The Head And The Heart
has never sounded better...

Not So Much Of A Little Show...

Pickwick stole my heart - Again...

Not only because they did a show

that benefited Arts Corps

(100 percent of the money went to the organization.)

Or because they are founded in my beloved Seattle

but because they know how to make my

random Thursday an amazing Thursday

with their mind blowing talent.

- Yes I am going to praise them to the fullest.-

They honestly deserve it.

I stood up in the front -

Dancing and singing until they

ended the show at a very early

11:30 pm.

It was too short of a night

but I am looking forward to more

delightful goodness from them

as the year continues!

And the much anticipated album...

I still don't know the name of this song but God do I love it...


New song "Halls Of Columbia"


Cover of 'Ostrich' was the highlight of the evening...


Second highlight of the evening!!! A Damien Jurado cover...


Doesn't matter how many times I see this:
Hacienda Motel gets me excited every time.

Jurado Covers

I personally find it odd if you are a local

Seattleite and you don't appreciate

Damien Jurado...

And if that's the case then maybe you need to hear

his stunning music sung by other local musicians.

Gladly with his new album coming up:

that is exactly what Pickwick and Jon Russel

(Among a few others...)

Decided to do!

You can download the music here:

Jurado Covers

and listen for days to come...

I know I will.

A Pablo Neruda Sonnet For Valentines Day...

"You're Not Just My Partner Anymore..."

I ended up checking out Haven

 after hearing it was loosely based

on a Stephen King novel.

Honestly the first season

did not impress me at all.

I was doubtful of the series being

renewed for a second season.

But surprise - It did.

And this time around

they got it right.

I am hooked.

And looking forward to a third season...

Maybe the mystery of Haven can finally be solved :

With some Audrey and Nathan romance in between?

"And I Will Always Love You..."

Whitney Houston passed away today...

While I did not find the news surprising -

It was nonetheless sad.

I have fond and embarrassing

moments of being a young girl

belting out her songs on my karaoke box,

(Anybody remember those?)

re watching Waiting To Exhale till it drove my friends crazy

and being overall in awe of her gorgeous voice.

At 47 years old - It just seems too soon for her to go.

Rest in peace Whitney and know

your legacy will always live on...

"Poor Nicholas... Tortured By A Soul He Hasn't Got."

My obsession with vampires did not start with Twilight.

Nor with Dracula.

But with a cheesy show I watched at the age of 14

in the Philippines.

I have been searching for the series for what feels like

a life time.

And I have finally found it.

Forever Knight is the title

and it follows the life of a 800 year old vampire

trying to become mortal while saving the

city of Toronto one crime at a time

as a detective and cop.

This series started it all -

And here I am knee high in anything vampire themed

because of this show...

-And spending my evenings re watching it.-

DEATH!!!

My barista this morning teased me that

they were serving me decaf coffee...

And this is exactly what came to mind -

DEATH BEFORE DECAF!!!

"And All Of The Places I Ain't Ever Been To..."

'Down In The Valley' was a song that held so much meaning for me in 2010.
I remember the first time I heard it at The Tractor,
I was almost moved to tears.
So the anticipation of this video was just a little too much to handle.
And upon viewing it, I am overcome with emotions.
The Head And The Heart have come so far
and this video captures the perfect essence of the band's
welcoming warmth and their love of music...
And just like the song says:
'All of the places I ain't  ever been to'
We see them traveling the land sharing
their positive energy with their ever growing fan base.
In a way -
They have been a band that have truly inspired me.
I'm not sure they know how much their music has meant to me.
And again: I am sounding like a cheesy 'parent',
but I couldn't be more prouder.

In Our Society Growing Food Yourself Has Become The Most Radical?

Lately I've been finding myself in

situations where I am explaining to people

why I choose to become an vegetarian.

And this poster reminded me of one of the reasons...

When I am able to raise my own

chickens, pigs etc

then I would be comfortable with the food.

And I would not feel guilty about

who is getting my well earned money...

Epic Cabin Party Of 2012

When: April  7th-8th

Where: Beatrice's cabin on Anderson Island.

Bring: Sleeping bags, tents, drinks and yourself. (And a friend!)

What to expect: Games, painting, floating lanterns and chats around a fire...

Interested? Contact me at tin2007@hotmail.com 

" Hey Guys? Today Was The BEST Day Of My Life"

I was so amazed with Chronicle that within 24 hours,

I went to see it again.

I am not sure if I am bias of the film because it was 'set'

in Seattle...
- I got to see my beloved Space Needle on the big screen. -

But oh my God -

I can not stress how much I loved this movie.
I went into the movie theater only aware
of the film being about teenagers who discover
they have super natural powers.
And that's all you should know before seeing this movie.
That and the fact that it is:
 dark, twisted, weird and surprising.
(Things I am a HUGE fan of.)
I am looking forward  to seeing it again...
You should see it too...

It's Friday...