Entre Nous.

Behind the Scenes

January's installment of 'Behind the Scenes' highlights Kathy of the blog Krafty Kath. Kathy and I bonded over our shared love of crafts (naturally) at Alt Summit last January. She's an uber talented graphic designer in her 9 to 5 life, but her other passion is her splendid blog, which features an array of clever crafts.

Collects  From the age of five I have been a collector of elephants. Over the years my tastes have changed from stuffed animals to more sophisticated elephants like Jonathan Adler ceramic elephants.

 

Admires  Mom and Dad. My Mom was the most selfless and the happiest person I have known...and my Dad is a truly dedicated husband.

 

Daydreams  Starting my own craft business. I just have to take the jump!

 

Guilty Pleasures  I'm a pop music junkie. And even though I'm 40, I still love me some boy bands. I know I'm old, but I can't get over being a child of the MTV era.

 

Weekend Pursuits  I am always trying to obtain zero dirty clothes in my house. Never seems to work...so in the meantime I work on my blog.

 

Libation of Choice  A good Washington wine. Some of my latest faves are Darby Winery, Owen Roe, and Damsel Cellars.

 

Coffee or Tea  I know I live in the coffee capital of Seattle...but I can't stand it. I'm a tea person all the way.

 

Blooms of Choice  Peonies. I love their ruffled edges. They remind me of tutus.

 

Favorite Book  The Color of Water by James McBride. It's a beautiful story of love, faith, and acceptance.

 

Where I’d Rather Be  On a beach digging my toes into the warm sand.

 

Lipstick or Gloss of the Moment  Trish McEvoy gloss in "Brightening Pink"

 

Nail Polish Du Jour  Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in gray. It was an impromptu purchase at Bartell's of all places, and has yielded the most compliments on nail polish I've ever had! 

 

Scent  Trish McEvoy N° 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk

 

Style Icon  My friend Cristy. :) She is my go-to fashion guru, advice giver, and approver!

 

Can’t Leave the House Without  My phone

 

Pending Vacations  Alt Summit in Salt Lake City at the end of January. After that, Spring Training in Arizona is on the table.

 

Social Media of Choice  Instagram

 

Crushing On  Louis Vuitton Pallas Handbag in black. When I reach my goal weight...this will be mine!

 

There you have it. See why she's a gem?

 

Galentine's Day

I'm over the moon about snagging tickets to Meghan Trainor's Valentine's Day show in Seattle.

So this year Valentine's Day for me will be about celebrating my besties. Isn't "All About That Bass" the anthem of girlfriends anyway?

Novembergram & Decembergram

Life of late summed up via Instagram. Since I had holiday brain I forgot to post November Instagram photos, so this month is a twofer.

December

  

• Presecco soaked gummi bears. What could be better.
• A fortuitous fortune accompanied my NYE chinese take out.
• Going to the movies is my happy place.
• Best. Christmas. Gifts. Ever.

   

• #itsthelittlethings
• Candy and Macarons and Nail Polish. Oh, my!
• Dicks, a Seattle institution.
• Jeff Koons on display at SAM.  

   

• 'Women, Work & The Art of Savoir Faire' deserves a place on your must read list.
• Apple Cider + Whiskey + Cointreau = Perfection
• It's a wrap!
• Morrissey, looking dapper as always.

   

• A musical theatrical version of 'A Christmas Story'? So there!
• Rewatching 'Christmas Vacation' for the umpteenth time and what did I spy? Grandpa with a copy of Sassy!
• #jinglealltheway
• Christmas cookies fireside.

   

• Even the powder room got a touch of Christmas decor this year.
• Zebras and Leopards and Malachite! Oh, my!
• Morrissey was FURious at me!
• Picture PURRfect.

• An Old Fashioned accompanied by the best smoked salmon EVER. Willows Inn for the win.
• It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
• Super downsize me.
• Nailed it!

November 

   

• Can't get enough of the chain link garland decking the Christmas trees at Nordstrom.
• Louboutin polish perfection.
• Matching your manicure to the weather. That's a thing, right?
• Winter wonderland.

   

• Rainbow connection on my way to Thanksgiving dinner.
• Houndstooth socks if you please.
• Matching manicure and mug. That's a thing too, right?
• Getting my holiday cheer on.

   

• The start of another epic meal at the Willows Inn.
• Getting my voting on.
• He's back!
• #chinoiseriecat

   

• Contemplating Kombucha.
• Getting my "paint your own pottery" on.
• Oysters at Rock & Rye.
• My half Birthday spoils (otherwise known as your "cupcake day").

   

• Mocha milkshake love.
• Studies in malachite.
• Winter white manicure.
• The hallowed Starbucks Christmas cup.

Follow me on Instagram: @HissAndTell

Sleepless no More

Are you familiar with The New York Times column "36 Hours in ________"? I find it to be beyond helpful when planning a jaunt somewhere new. Now they've branched out into videos and this version for Seattle is just brilliant.

Showtime

Last Saturday my friend Emily and I trekked down to Seattle to hear Ms. Dunham read from the book she received a scandalous $3.6 million book advance to write.

I've attended a few book readings in my time, but this was the first with not one but TWO opening acts. I could have done with more Lena and less pre Lena, but that's just me. Because clearly there's never enough Lena to satiate me. She predictably read from a few essays and conducted her own Q+A with pre-submitted questions from the audience. She was everything you'd imagine and more. Despite the event going by far too quickly, was it well worth the $77 I paid on Stubhub for my ticket? Well yes, because after I devour the book I'm going to put the autographed copy up for sale on eBay. The book, along with the party favor condoms I received from Planned Parenthood (a sponsor of the evening), should bring in a pretty penny, no?