Preseason Kick Off!

I felt as though my post from yesterday was lacking. I told you that we went to the Seahawks game, yet I didn't post one picture from the stadium! We had good seats so I was able to capture a few bulging biceps.

For a preseason game, I thought it was awesome that the seats were so full! Seattle may not have the best record, but they do have some pretty devoted fans which always makes for an exciting game. 

And yes, they won. 

The best part about football season though is the food. Yep, the food. People come over, we sit and are lazy for hours, all the while stuffing our faces with game day goodness. It's truly disgusting. But mostly awesome. And now I have an excuse to make sooo many Pinterest recipes I've been dying to try! 

And I always wonder why I put on weight in the Fall....

I hope you're having a good week so far! Is anyone else already twiddling their thumbs impatiently waiting for Friday? 

Sunshine, Waves, and Beautiful Summer Days!

This weekend, Steven and I headed to Seattle for the Seahawks preseason game. It was a beautiful sunny day, so we left a few hours early to take advantage of the pretty weather and spend some time exploring Seattle. 

I love to go to the Pike Place Market. It's always bustling with activity and there are so many pretty things to see and yummy things to taste!

They have some of the most beautiful flower arrangements I've ever seen! I want to take one home every time!

We walked around Seattle for a few hours then headed back towards the pier for a bite to eat before going to the stadium to watch some football. 

Football season means Fall is right around the corner. My favorite time of year! Although, I'm not sure I'm ready for summer to end just yet. 

Friday Letters

Dear Pinterest - You have too many good ideas. Especially this one above. Make your own all natural coffee creamer?? I never would have thought of this on my own! And the amount of coffee creamer I go through is intense. Steven and I will definitely benefit by this idea! Also, we have completed our Pinterest inspired desk! Now we just need to decorate the office...Dear Family - I missed you on my birthday. I hate being homesick. Worst. Feeling. Ever. Dear Seahawks - Preseason game this  Saturday! Now I just need to get some Seahawks gear so I can look like a true fan! {Which I'm not. Go Giants!} Dear Steven - Tonight let's stay in, eat ice cream, and watch movies in our pj's all while cuddling our pup and kitty. K? Dear Seattle Traffic - You stress me out beyond belief. I can't handle driving in you during rush hour. I know there are bad drivers wherever you go, but seriously, you are by far the worst in my opinion. {No offense fellow Washingtonians who read my blog. I really almost died yesterday so I'm a little bitter.}

Hope everyone has a great weekend! See you on Monday :)

Raspberry Pie

One of my favorite things about our new home is the raspberry bush in the front yard. The raspberries are delicious! And let me tell you, that plant is doing work! We have had an abundance of raspberries all summer long! I picked 4 cups the other day and decided to make my first raspberry pie. 

Ingredients:

• Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 4 1/2 cups raspberries
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, more to taste
• Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Slowly unroll the pie crust and fit into an 11-inch pie plate. 
3. Combine the raspberries, flour, sugar, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Toss gently so you don't     break the raspberries. Spoon into the pie shell and dot the mixture with the butter pieces.
4. In a small bowl combine egg and heavy cream, whisking lightly. Set aside.
5. Slowly unroll the remaining dough and cut into 1-inch strips. Weave strips together over filling, and place an extra few strips along the edge where the bottom curst joins the top crust. Press this strip with a fork to seal. **okay, so I got a little lazy and kinda gave up with the weaving. Whatever.** Brush pastry dough with egg glaze and sprinkle sugar on top. 
6. Bake for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until the pie is golden brown. 

Pies are truly the easiest desserts to make! I promise there is no way you can mess this up. Steven and I loved it and I hope to make another one soon (that is if we can keep Huckleberry away long enough to get 4 more cups of raspberries. Who would have thought he'd love fruit so much).

Hope you have a great day!

I'm 24.

Isn't your birthday supposed to make you one year more wise, more mature, more cultured, more purpose driven? If so, I missed the birthday boat. I'm pretty positive I'm simply the same as I was 2 days ago. Just older. 

I always get this strange sense of disillusionment after my birthday. Actually, after any holiday. It's the anticipation one feels leading up to the day that creates the excitement. And then when it's all over, I feel almost cheated. Why? I have no idea. It has nothing to do with insufficient celebration, family, or friends. It's just a weird internal disease I've always struggled with. 

Yes, a disease. I think discontentment is a disease. It can eat you up and make you miserable if you allow it. 

But I digress...

All in all, I had a great birthday! I'm just no longer 12, so the pink princess tiara and pony riding days are over. (Actually, I can't remember a birthday when I wore a pink princess tiara or rode a pony...but you get my point.) After work, Steven and I went to Point Defiance Park (ya know, where we got our engagement photos taken) and ate at a restaurant right on the water called Anthony's. 

Good food, beautiful location, and quality time with my man?? It really doesn't get much better than that. Oh yeah, and dessert. Of course I had dessert :)

Hope everyone else had a good Tuesday! And feel free to eat a piece of cake (or the whole darn thing) in celebration of me gracing this earth with my presence for 24 years. 

Does anyone else struggle with post birthday blues?? If so, I'd love to hear about how you shake yourself out of it!