Entre Nous.

This is emo

So The OC season finale was pretty intense. The OC is to 2005 what 90210 was to 1995. We really were in dire need of another 90210esque evening drama, so thanks to The OC for filling that void. Oh and I loved that Seth and I are reading the same book - Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs : A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman.

I finished my Subversive Cross Stitch project this morning. Now I've got to find a frame to compliment it.

So I have to tell you about this great new book that I discovered called Mix Tape : The Art of Cassette Culture edited by Thurston Moore. Of course it was the cover of this book that first caught my eye. Then when I saw that it was edited by Thurston Moore I just had to have it. The book is a compilation of essays about and images of mix tapes by various writers, artists, designers, directors and musicians. I adore the cut and paste style of the books interior. It has a handmade feel to it and reminds me of a zine. I don't remember the first mix tape I ever received nor do I remember the last. What I do remember is the last mix tape that I made for someone else. It was for a boy for Valentine's Day about 4 years ago. I named it "21 Love Songs". I kept every mix tape that anyone ever made for me and listened to a few of them till they broke. Reading this book made me miss mix tapes and burning someone a CD is not the same thing as making someone a mix tape.

Bashville

My Birthday party took place on Saturday.  Exactly ninety minutes before the party was set to begin my father calls to say he can't make it.  And his excuse for not coming seemed rather feeble.  Subsequently due to the fact that my father couldn't make the party my sister couldn't make it either, since he was her ride.  My birthday cake came from a bakery called La Vie En Rose.  The cake was chocolate with hazelnut butter cream frosting.  So sensational.  I got plenty of nice things for my Birthday.  Ranging from a new Sony Cybershot digital camera to a Starbucks gift card.  I received a pink Neighborhoodies tank top that says "pearls" around the collar in white gothic letters.  A cross stitch pattern from Subversive Cross Stitch that reads "Irony is not dead".  Which I can't wait to complete and frame.  Coach sandals, which I've been coveting for months.  Some cute vintage floral trays.  Tulips from Martha Stewart flowers.  A pink rose Diptyque candle, one of their newest releases.  Har Mar Superstar, Belle and Sebastian and Stereo Total CDs.  All kinds of lovely books ranging from Gentleman Prefer Blondes to Todd Oldham's  Handmade Modern. 

Hip hip

So for my Birthday, on Thursday, we went to dinner at a new tapas restaurant in Fairhaven called Flats.  The food was delicious and of great variety.  But I really must say my favorite part was the cappuccino at the end of the meal and then the pistachio gelato.

We also went to see the movie Melinda and Melinda. It was superb.  Everyone thought so.  It's one of those movies where everyone claps at the end.  Woody Allen at his finest.  And the funny thing was that the discussion between the playwrights that takes place at the beginning of the movie and throughout occurs at Pastis, the restaurant in NYC that Alina and I ate at in November.  The staff there was so intolerable that we felt compelled to leave a nasty note.

Stop. Fast-Forward. Pause. Rewind.

Last Sunday and Monday was spent in Seattle.  Our first stop was Cupcake Royale in Ballard.  Finally I've discovered a place that specializes in ONLY cupcakes and cupcake accessories.  This was my first time at this establishment and I was not disappointed.  Although I did feel a bit rushed to make my decision as to which flavor cupcakes I wanted.  We decided to buy six so that we could try a variety of flavors.  The two I liked best were "Peppermint Party" and "Dance Party with Holly Hobbie".  Plus I just had to buy some of their pins with statements like "legalize frostitution".  I also purchased a T-shirt AND about 10 cupcake toppers.  Now if only I can find a place in Bellingham that makes cupcakes (and I'm not talking about the grocery store variety). 

   

Next we hit Fremont.  Since it was Mother's Day the shops were filled with a gaggle of children.  Children are all well and good but they aren't enjoyed when they're crowding the shops I only get to visit a few times a month. 

   

Next we went to the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington.  The exhibits were so so this time.  In the gallery gift shop I spotted Loretta Lux's book of photographs which I just had to have. 

   

After the gallery we went to University Village and had lunch at the newly opened Blue C Sushi.  It's good to see that University Village is diversifying their previously limited dining options.  Blue C Sushi is one of those restaurants where the sushi travels around on a conveyor belt and you simply take a plate of whatever looks appealing.  This concept is apparently known as "kaiten sushi".  We went there with the intention of having a "light lunch" since we had dinner reservations later that evening.  But seeing the sushi meander past you it's so hard to restrain yourself from trying a variety of items.  The quality of the food was excellent.  After living in Berkeley, where even the cheap neighborhood sushi restaurants are sensational, I wasn't prepared to be too impressed.  But the quality was outstanding.  After shopping around University Village we headed downtown.    

 

Unfortunately to my chagrin my favorite shop, Great Jones Home, was closed.  I always seem to forget that Sunday is the one day a week they're not open.   

   

Next we went to Pacific Place and looked around a bit. 

   

Then we went to Tom Douglas's Palace Kitchen for dinner. 

I had the best hamburger ever that night.  It was topped with blue cheese.  Even the french fries were sensational.  I'm reluctant to say this but I think it might have even been better than the hamburger I had a few summers ago with D. at Father's Office in Santa Monica. 

   

After dinner we went to see The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at Cinerama .  I love the name of that theater!  Apparently the theater was set to close but was saved by Paul Allen in 1999.  Doesn't Paul Allen seem to finance everything in Seattle?  It's one of the few theaters that boast one large screen.  It was opened in 1952.  The movie was smashing.  I'm always confident a movie will stay true to the original story when the author is selected to write the screen play.  My favorite part of the movie was the singing dolphins in the beginning.  That song was stuck in my head for the night.

   

Then we spent the night at a hotel on Lake Union.   

   

On Monday morning for breakfast we went to a place I'd heard about called Top Pot Doughnuts.  The donuts were beyond belief.  I ordered a cake donut topped with pink frosting and coconut.  Their donuts are enormous.  Go see for yourself. 

   

After breakfast we went to Great Jones Home, which was thankfully open.  I adore the shop owner.  She's one of those people who makes a point of getting to know her clientele by name.  And she has the sweetest little dog that wanders around the store.  I didn't find much of anything to buy on this visit though.  Usually I have to restrain myself because there's so much I covet.   

   

We stopped off at a few more places then headed home.  Spending a few days in Seattle is so much better than just going down for the day.  And I can't get enough of three day weekends. 

Select, don't settle

Here's proof that spring has arrived in Bellingham.   

 

So they're casting for Project Runway season two.  I can't wait for that show to come back.  Bravo is where it's at.

 

For the past few weeks I've spent most of my non working hours reading, and "crafting".  I sewed another felt cake. This one is chocolate with white frosting.  And I discovered my

current favorite craft project, marble magnets.  I found the directions at Not Martha.  They're super easy to make and so cute.