Contact 2015, New Years, visitors, and SNOW!

The week after Christmas, we went up to Vancouver for our very first CONTACT festival! I really and truly loved the venue, and despite the ultra low temps I had a great time. Even though I said no more festivals after this year, I'd definitely consider attending that one again.

After the drive home, we were so exhausted. But we had to get ready for our visitors - Andy, Alom, and Gary! They stayed with us three nights, and it went by way too quickly. We brought them to Burnett's for BNO, and Matt took them sightseeing the next day in Seattle. For NYE, we got a table at Aston Manor and it was the BEST IDEA EVER. We were the first ones to book the brand new enclosed area right next to the stage, and we had an awesome view of the DJ and crowd. Bottles and bottles later, we were all having a wonderful time, and certainly a happy new year. 

The week after the guys left, I got extremely sick and ended up sleeping for two days straight. YUCK! Hopefully that was my sickness for the year. That flu or whatever it was really hit me like a wall. I'm wondering if it was the cold weather, because we did actually have some snow that week. Forrest got to play in it! 

So far, this year has been great! I took a writing class with Chelsie already, and work is going well as usual. I can't wait to see what else 2016 has in store for me. I really have to shed my winter coat soon though -- boy, I layered up thick this holiday season! HAHA

Snowboarding, Menie, and Charles

Finally made the trip! Snoqualmie was tiny, but it was perfect to break me in after two seasons of not boarding. Unlike Boreal, it was clean. HAHA!

Lunch time at the resort, which also means boozing time. I got peer pressured by Matt and Eric, but I have to admit that it was an entirely different experience to drink and board.

Like feeling compelled to do this. And being daring enough to try and pick up speed in the terrain park. I failed miserably by the way, lost control and ending up on my back gasping for air. It was a really bad tumble but I'm perfectly fine. I should probably call it quits before I break something.. amazing day trip though!

Black Bottle Postern in Bellevue for Menie's birthday dinner before Blue Martini. This was my second fave dish, my first fave was Victor's Roasted Tomatoes. Mmmmm.

Pesto wood fired pizza for lunch on Sunday with Charles. The weather was perfect and we sat outside near the Kirkland Waterfront.

BBQ at the Zante house after Charles left. This weather is amazing, it's getting me all hyped for summer! Looking forward to bbqs and sunshine in Seattle <3

Winter Recap & Revisiting Resolutions?

Inspiration for a new hobby option, Chateau Ste Michelle in Woodinville. I've been here four times now, and I still discover amazing things with every visit.

Cooking and being healthy! I've been trying my best.

Working out! I've been going to Planet Fitness almost regularly. I really like that gym. I'll never settle for 24 hour fitness again!

Enjoying every winter day in the Pacific Northwest. Snow is still cool. Love Seattle even through the rain - it's gorgeous!

Winter Wonderland - Snow BBQ Awesomeness

So when Matt and I heard a huge storm was coming this week, we decided to load up on groceries in case we got snowed in. And well, since we were already at Safeway, we decided we might as well stock up our liquor cabinet while we were there.

We decided to expand our horizons, so instead of grabbing a bottle of Jack or Patron, we picked up some whiskeys that we thought looked cool. We were both very happy about our decision to try new things.

With the anticipation of snow, JR and BJ came over and we had a onesie party! I was very excited because I very recently got a Paul Frank onesie and was just waiting for an occasion like this. Needless to say, we were toasty as could be last night. We stayed up late just hanging out and talking. There were old cartoon classics playing in the background, it was definitely good times.

We woke up this morning to SNOW SNOW SNOW! After waking up Tuesday morning and expecting snow (then being very disappointed), it was awesome to get the call about not having to go into work. We cooked up a hearty breakfast that was yummers! I spent a lot of my morning staring out the window, watching car wheels spinning on the patches of ice on our block.

After breakfast, we all went over to the Zante house to play in the snow. There was probably double the amount of snow in Lynnwood than there was in our neighborhood. Everything was covered in snow and looking gorgeous. We started by making snowmen, and I got to practice my ball rolling techniques. I think I've much improved since last time! We pumped up the boom box and were dancing in the snow. It was a jolly good time. Even Reubs came out to play, he's such a cutie!

Someone got the ingenius idea to build an igloo. So we started patting down snow even though we weren't sure exactly how an igloo is built. In any case, we got hungry from all of that grunt work! We took a break and picked up groceries to have a bbq. MY FIRST SNOW BBQ!!! And it was so good. Snow BBQs are awesome because the fire also warms you up!

After eating, we had more energy to build on! But first, we trudged down the block and up the hill for some sledding. Also my FIRST TIME SLEDDING! It was really scary at first, but still very fun. The snow looked so pretty in the night, the sky was dark but because the snow was reflecting the light it seemed still bright outside. Almost like a sepia effect? We had to stop sledding after JR and Matt got hurt. Old geezers.

We went back to our igloo, and kept patting away. We eventually decided to call it a fort instead and quit for the day. Everyone was exhausted! It turned out pretty well, I think it was very impressive and I'm proud to say that it was my first snow fort. :)

Snow days are the best. We DEFINITELY didn't have those in California. Skipping work to play in the snow and drink? Yes please!

SNOW!

I am pleased to introduce you to, my first snowman! The snowing season is now underway. :) There was a teensy bit of snow yesterday, lots more snow today, and according to the weather forecast we're in for snow for at least a few more days.

How does it feel, you ask? Simply enchanting. The only times I've ever experienced snowfall were in Tahoe - they were tiny, miserably cold snow flakes that didn't look like flakes at all. BUT TODAY! The snow was powdery and flaky, and the most wonderfully delightful thing I've experienced in Seattle yet. Matt woke me up this morning to show me the snow, and when I finally got out of bed I bundled up and went upstairs to the roof. I made a snowman! Or at least, what I thought was a snowman. Matt joined me later on and after he told me I was supposed to roll the balls in the snow to even them out and make them fluffy, I made a much more proportionate snowman. They don't show you these things in the movies!

As the snow cleared up later in the day, so did my excitement. Truthfully, my time here in Seattle is become less and less blissful. Things have been unwinding since New Year, and my future is now very uncertain. Things with Victor have boiled down to us just being friends, which I'm totally grateful for, but not very happy about. The feeling of being so lucky and cared for all of the time has now turned into two feelings 1) at times feeling lucky for the fun new friends I have made, and 2) at times feeling sad and left out, wishing that things had stayed the same.

Dealing with the negative emotions in my life is exponentially worse being 800 miles away from the people that I know and love best. The weekend before last I spent two days doing absolutely nothing, just laying in bed feeling so discouraged that I couldn't muster the motivation to shower or eat. Being in a new city and feeling alone is scary, and so unpleasant. But I'm sure that this would have happened eventually, no matter where I went. Sadness seems to be inevitable for me.

There are also changes in my work situation recently, and it's only a matter of weeks before I'll be out of a job. There are plans to move me to a different shop, but so many things can happen at this point. Leave it to me, the worry wart, to wring my brain about everything. So many things scratching at the back of my brain. I'm exhausted and so discouraged, but I'll just keep smiling through it.

I still have fanastic moments here though, like this morning with my first snow experience. Or even just hanging out with Matt and partying with the guys. I went to karaoke with Menie last week, and we had a BLAST. Her friend and his friend joined us, and I almost went to Whistler with them the next day. I know it would have been an amazing trip, but I was feeling sick and didn't want to risk getting sicker on the road. Every day is a new adventure, and I'm trying my best to shake the feeling of loneliness and missing certain someones to enjoy the opportunities that come up. It's tough, but it's the best I can do. And the best I can be is all I've ever wanted to be - that's why I never have any regrets.