Anthropologie - Pahoehoe Flow Top by Pure & Good

Pahoehoe Flow Top by Pure & Good $39.95 (reg. $58)

I love this tee!  It's much thinner than I expected, it's a thick tee-shirt fabric with a contrasting cowl neck. The Pahoehoe Flow Top is really versatile, and can be dressed up or down.

Review - Ting Momo - Seattle, WA

Ting Momo

The most recent opening of Tom Douglas's empire is Ting Momo, a Tibetan dumpling house.  I imagine this restaurant is a bit swankier than a traditional Tibetan dumpling house, although the ambiance is unique and warming.  

Review - Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Seattle, WA

Green Leaf Restaurant

With all of the choices in the International District it can be difficult to find the good spots.  Thanks to the internet and sites like Yelp and Urbanspoon, restaurants are a little easier to choose.  More than reading reviews, I love to see the photos of the food - You can tell a lot from a photo!  So after visiting my Aunt and Uncle who live near the ID, we decided to finally try Green Leaf.

Review - Staple & Fancy Mercantile - Ballard - Seattle, WA

Staple & Fancy Mercantile

 Located in Ballard just minutes from my house is the newest addition to the family of Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Staple & Fancy Mercantile.  We love Tavolata, and How To Cook a Wolf, so I have been looking forward to Staple & Fancy.

Anthropologie - Antilles Tank by Lili's Closet

Antilles Tank by Lili's Closet $39.95 (reg. $68)

The first time I tried this on, I was put off by the unflattering fit. There really isn't much shape to it, so a bigger bust just makes it look kind of like a mu'umu'u.   No one wants to look like they are wearing a mu'umu'u, unless of course, they are wearing a mu'umu'u.   But I love the mustard yellow color, so when I saw it on sale, I decided to give it another try.

Review - Mr. Gyros - Seattle, WA

Mr. Gyros

I love this place!  This is our go to spot for Gyros!  There are two locations, one on Greenwood, and a newer location in Ballard.   The Ballard location is much bigger than the original Greenwood spot, and we live right in between the two.  I actually prefer the Greenwood location for takeout, Ballard is good if you plan to dine in since there is more seating. 

Anthropologie - Pezza Dress by Deletta

Pezza Dress by Deletta $69.95 (reg. $128)

I have noticed that each spring Anthropologie releases a few cotton jersey dresses that are heavier than a summer dress, and perfect for sunny spring days in Seattle. The Pezza dress is fantastic!  I love the thickness of the dress, but it's still breathable.  Because it's jersey, it's super comfortable and very flattering, even with a bigger bust.  I still love cowl necks, They are universally flattering if you can get it to lay just right. 

Review - List - Belltown - Seattle, WA

List

I'd been wanting to give List a try for quite some time... So, before seeing a show at the Crocodile, we decided List was going to be a good choice.  It's a tiny restaurant, easy to miss, located on 1st in Belltown.  It's a 21 and over spot, so no children allowed!  It's a small restaurant, that seats maybe about 36 people.  

Nordstrom Rack - Halogen Beaded Chiffon Cardigan

I used to shop at Nordstrom Rack religiously... To the point where people knew my name there.  Yes, it's a little embarrassing.  I moved further away, so as a result, went to the Rack less and less over the years.  But, every once in a while I still love to go and find great deals!  

Today, While browsing the tag sale, which is where they do additional mark downs on already low prices, I found this cute Halogen Cardigan, amongst other things...  

Review - Local 360 - Seattle, WA

Local 360

So I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I have a slight bias against the hip "Localtarians" that are so prevalent in the Pacific Northwest.  A friend recently moved to PDX and one of his first observations was the over the top localtarianism.  Portlandia even spoofed the whole local sustainable movement in one of their shows.  With a roll of the eyes, I think to myself, "Really? What is the big deal?"  

Review - Wann Izakaya - Seattle, WA

Wann Izakaya

I just love Izakaya style dining.  It's like Japanese Tapas, small plates meant for sharing, and lots of drinks to go around.  We've been going to Wann for quite some time and the food is consistently good!  I love the ambiance of the restaurant, and almost every time we are there, Japanese hipsters are there, boisterously speaking in their native tongue and having what appears to be a great time!

Review - Seatown Seabar and Rotisserie - Seattle, WA

Seatown Seabar and Rotisserie

Located next to Etta's in the Market is Seatown Seabar and Rotisserie, another Tom Douglas creation... The menu consists mostly of seafood for obvious reasons, and unfortunately there isn't much for my SO to eat here.

Anthropologie - Draw The Eye Vest

Anthropologie Draw The Eye Vest $49.95 (reg. $88)

Lately I've had a thing for vests - I love layering them over long sleeves during winter, and short sleeves during summer... The Draw The Eye Vest is gorgeous! I love the mixed printed cotton and knit body.  This vest is lightweight enough to wear well in to summer and pairs really well with skirts or jeans... 

Recipe - Burmese Tea Leaf Salad

Burmese Tea Leaf Salad (Lahpet Thoke)

During a recent trip to San Francisco, we finally dined at the much raved about Burma Superstar.  One dish we knew to try was the Tea Leaf Salad.  According to their website they actually go to Burma to get the tea leaves (Lahpet) for their salad.

Review - Espressamente Illy - The Palazzo - Las Vegas, NV

Espressamente Illy

As I've stated on my blog before, my SO is a coffee snob - when we vacation he needs to find good coffee, although he will resort to Starbucks if that is his only choice.  He usually scopes out indie coffee houses with hipsters working as baristas, however, this appears to be something that is lacking in Las Vegas.

Anthropologie - Striped Borders Boyfriend Cardi by Field Flower

Striped Borders Boyfriend Cardi by Field Flower $29.95 (reg. $118)

Living in a city where the weather fluctuates, it's hard to know what to wear.  Layering is something that is natural for any Seattlelite. One minute, it's warm and sunny, then next a breeze comes in from the Sound and it's freezing cold.  So cardigans are a necessity.  The Striped Borders Boyfriend Cardi from Anthropologie is perfect for spring or summer in Seattle.  It's lightweight, delicate, and girly-nerd chic.  

Review - Carnevino - Las Vegas, NV

Carnevino

We were promptly seated in the smaller dining area on the opposite side of the host station & bar.  After having dined in the main area before, I was a little disappointed, the side we were seated in is directly in the casino and really didn't give the fine dining ambiance we were hoping for. Not to mention the blaring music - Red Hot Chili Peppers, really? At what is described as fine dining? The music was too loud, and along with the noise from the casino, I might as well have chosen to dine at a cafe.  Our server even commented that he had to tune out the bad choice in music and blamed Mario Batali for the music selection.  Ugh.

Anyways, on to the food...

Review - Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV

Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casino

Because my SO's parent's live in Vegas, we visit pretty frequently.  Not that we didn't go to Vegas a lot before they moved there, it's just a new excuse for a weekend of overindulgence!  I have stayed at most of the hotels on the Strip, with the exception of most of the older ones.  The Palazzo is one of my favorite places to stay.

Anthropologie - Drifting Lilies Dress by Leifsdottir

Drifting Lilies Dress by Leifsdottir $79.95 (reg. $298)

When I saw the Drifting Lilies Dress I fell in love with the print...  Layers of flowy chiffon, it's just so feminine!  But at full price, and without knowing where I would wear this dress, I didn't even bother to try it on.  Then it hit the sale racks... and now it's on a second markdown!

Review - Firefly - Las Vegas, NV

Firefly

Located off The Strip is the popular Tapas Bar, Firefly.  The Paradise location is in a small strip mall just a few minutes from The Strip.  The restaurant is small, loud, and full of people - It's not really a place for a conversation, but it's a decent spot for decent eats and drinks.  The Westside location is much more chill, and more of a place for the locals.

Anthropologie - Silene Tee by C. Keer

Silene Tee by C. Keer $39.95 (reg. $78)

I loved the look of this tee online, but when it hit the sale, my size was sold out.   I was able to find it in several sizes at Anthro at Caesar's Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas, however the tee is crap.  It's super thin and would definitely need a tank or something underneath.  The fit is flattering, but during spring and summer I don't want to have to wear layers of clothing.  

Review - Bouchon Bakery - Las Vegas, NV

Bouchon Bakery

I love that I don't have to go to Yountville to get a Bouchon Bakery fix...We visit Las Vegas frequently, and if we are at the Venetian, we stop at Bouchon Bakery.  Even if it's just for a giant Macaron or a Chocolate "Bouchon".  

Easter 2011 - Lunch and Cookie Decorating!

I wasn't raised in a religious family. And as much as I am aware that this will offend people, celebrating Easter really isn't much more than a commercial holiday to me - and I love to have an excuse to buy brightly colored decorations and get my family together!

Review - Fleur by Hubert Keller - Las Vegas, NV

Fleur by Hubert Keller

I remember dining here when It was Fleur de Lys, Chef Hubert Keller has transformed this into a more casual restaurant serving smaller plates.  If you are looking for a substantial meal, this probably isn't the place to go - the servings are small and I'd recommend ordering 2-3 dishes for a lighter lunch.