That One Time It Snowed In Washington

While the rest of the country seems to be frozen, here in Washington it's a balmy 40 degrees with the usual overcast skies. Okay, maybe not balmy. But compared to what my two brothers are experiencing in upstate New York I figure I can't complain... We did have one snow this year. One. Snow. It's definitely something that I struggle getting used to --not having white Christmases in Washington -- but this snow came a few days before Christmas and my heart was so full thinking this year it would be white! But alas, less than 1 inch of snow never sticks around for long and by Christmas it was all gone.

Either way, Huck and I had fun during our one snow day. 

Huck taking his snow nose to a whole new level

Stay warm, everybody! 

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The farmer's almanac predicted we'd have a dry but very cold winter in Washington this year, and it's beginning to look like they were right on the money with that prediction. It's cold outside! Much too cold to do anything but make hot cocoa and snuggle my pup. So today I'm playing hookie and doing just that.

Happy Thursday, friends! Hope you're staying warm. 

Hello, Sunshine. Welcome to Seattle.

This morning I work up to sunshine.

Basically, today is going to be awesome.

"Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

-Hans Christian Anderson

Puppies, Pizza, and Pie (okay, just one puppy)

I know I mentioned in my Friday Letters that this weekend was calling for never ending rain, and that's exactly what we got. It poured nonstop and apparently Huckleberry and Herschel take after their momma and don't like to get their hair wet. Those two pretty much stayed indoors all weekend and demanded cuddles and extra long naps.  

I ever worked up the nerve to put my rain boots and coat on and slosh around in the rain with Huck... but he wasn't having it!

Luckily after work on Friday I made a stop at a natural food store and scored these amazing dairy, nut, and soy free chocolate chips! There is something really pleasant about baking on a rainy day...

I used the chocolate chips to make a gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate cream pie and ya'll, it was awesome!! People are always so concerned that eating healthy and all natural means they can't enjoy sweets, but you can! Just take all that crap that you usually put in a pie (refined sugar, all purpose flour, processed milk) and replace it with all natural ingredients (agave, almond flour, coconut milk)! 

You don't have to sacrifice flavor to be healthy!! But I digress...

Baking is always a relaxing way to spend a rainy day, but nothing is more relaxing then curling up in an oversized, plush blanket with a good book and coffee. 

Right now I'm reading one chapter of Crazy Love a week in preparation for the Wednesday night Bible study Steven and I attend. With every chapter I am flabbergasted more and more by how much my heavenly Father loves me. And I'm really excited that I was able to use the word flabbergasted on my blog. 

And in true rainy weather fashion, we opted to order pizza rather than cook. Just down the street from us there's an awesome pizza/deli that we don't go to nearly enough. The food is always fresh and delicious! If you're ever in the Black Diamond area I highly recommend stopping there for a bite. 

What did you do this weekend? If you had sunshine I don't want to hear about. JK...no really, don't tell me.  ;)

Oh yeah, thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions of where to find season 3 of Downton!! I found it (for freeeeesss!) and wasted many rainy hours greedily feasting on their english accents and Matthew Crawley's blue eyes. 

Help! Bridesmaids Dresses

So, the realization hit me that I'm getting married in November.

Not July,

or August

but November.

Seattle, you are cold in November.

(and all year round)

I originally wanted my bridesmaid to wear mismatched neutral dresses, hoping they'd each pick something out individually that they really loved and could potentially wear again because let's face it, when us brides pick out the bridesmaids dresses ourself and say "Oh, for sure, like they can TOTALLY re-wear this," they really won't re-wear it will they?...because more than likely it's an ugly dress. 

(Yes, the truth oftentimes stings.)

Anyways, after looking at semi-cute bridesmaid dresses I gave up. I just want them to wear something they like. Easy peasy. I decided on choosing a neutral color palette and letting them choose color, style, fit, price range, etc. that best suits them. Something similar to these pinterest finds.

Ahh, and then I remembered --November is cold.

and some of my ladies may prefer to wear long dresses that are a) warmer and b) don't show off their blindingly white November legs. Maybe something like this.

So what do you think? I feel like other than the color palette, the bridesmaids need to also have the same length dresses. They can still be mismatched --but similarities in length and color coordination are important, right? or no? 

(Wait say that again? Oh yes, I should probably ask my bridesmaids myself. You're so smart. I'll go do that right now.)

**UPDATE: If you're stopping by from Pinterest and would like to see the bridesmaid dresses I decided on, go here!

Spring Peek-a-Boo

All weekend through yesterday evening my hands were tied up at work. Sorry for the lack of blog posts. But  it is necessary to live life in order to narrate it. Due to the extra hours spent at work to complete this proposal, the boss man said I could take the day off. I didn't argue. Obviously.

And what a beautiful day it is to be at home and not at the office! No, there is no sunshine, but there also is NO rain. Which makes today a B+ in my book. It's funny how my definition of a "gloomy day" has changed since moving here. Dark days are no longer gloomy --it must be dark and rainy.  I do fear that people may start mistaking me for a vampire soon though. It's time to invest in some good tanning lotion.

Even the flowers were inspired by the beautiful day and decided to come out for a visit. I had to take a few snapshots just so they knew their efforts were not in vain.

And right now wouldn't you know that the sun is trying to come out! I'd like to think that even if only for today, perhaps, it's rays are just for me.

Hope you have a beautiful, bright, happy day!