Visitors, Sun and Portland

This past weekend was another good one. Granger and Bethany arrived in Seattle Friday night at 6 for a layover. Brandon picked them up at the airport and whisked them up to our apartment. It was so great to see them both and catch up. We haven't seen them in over three years! Crazy! It was so amazing to hear about their life up in Alaska and the adventures they have gone on. I thought we were risky coming to Seattle...boy was I wrong! Friday night went too quickly and Saturday morning we drove them back to the airport for their next flight. Hopefully, another long layover will happen soon :)

We then continued from the airport down to Portland for the Oregon Brewers festival! This was our 3rd year attending! We sat in the shade (it was in the 90's!), tasted beers and did some serious people watching....awesome!

We ended Saturday with a visit to Cha Cha Cha...the best Mexican food in Portland. Shrimp tacos, beef tacos...they were so good! Sunday, we awoke to a beeping...the fire detector decided to run out of battery at 5:15 in the morning! Lucky after disassembling and putting in the hallway we were able to fall back asleep. Before we left Portland we had breakfast at our favorite spot Mother's Bistro! It was a good weekend!

Two Great Weekends

OH summer weekends....they are so wonderful. This past weekend was great. Beautiful weather, good food, new places...yep it was good! On Friday, we tried a new restaurant (for us) called Bastille. Very good food for happy hour....fries (frites as the french call them), lamb burger, mussels, and a falafel! Everything was enjoyed while sitting out on their patio. The only downside but slightly funny aspect was our waiter who thought he was French but wasn't! Worst French accent ever! On Saturday, we walk all the way around Lake Union! It was long but beautiful. That afternoon we visited the Fisherman's pier for the first time! We bought fresh mussels to make for dinner! I really wanted to get the shrimp...huge!

The weekend previous to last was also great. We went to the Mobile Chowdown IV, which is where they bring together all the street food carts in one location. We ate at Skillet and El Camion. Brandon had a slider and fries (I may have helped with the fries!) and I had fish tacos. So tasty!

So, I realize we write about food a lot! But really it has a lot to due with the atmosphere and culture out in the area. People are so passionate about the food they make and it makes you want to be apart of it all! Brandon is soaking it all in and reading cookbooks everyday, every night...its been so neat to see him take ideas from restaurants and books and make the recipe his own. I am always amazed. So if you are bored with eating...a trip to Seattle might due you good (either eating out or eating Brandon's creations :) )


The weather has been amazing the last few weeks here...makes me love Seattle even more....also makes me wish this weather was year round!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Wow, its hard to believe its July already! Before we get to the festivities of the Fourth...Happy Birthday Grandma Schuster!!! My grandma turned 80 this past week :) and doesn't look a day over thirty! She is an amazing woman who truly has embraced all that life has to offer. She has showered her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and strangers with her love, generosity, and enthusiasm. We love you! (She also is the only one who can take normal pictures!)


The fourth was a crazy experience for us this year. Living in the Eastlake neighborhood is definitely proving to be exciting and fun during the summer. Starting on Saturday we watched the barge get pulled into place right in front of our apartment...this is where they would be setting off the fireworks on Sunday night! On Sunday as we got ready for friends to come over the boats were pouring into the area to get a good spot for the show. We had a few friends over for the festivities...Brandon made shrimp tacos complete with cabbage slaw, guacamole, and salsa! Everyone brought food and drinks so we were set for the evening!
The neighborhood came to life around 1pm with fireworks, yelling, people walking around. It was so fun to watch for our balcony. Then around 10:30 the fireworks started and were amazing. We had an amazing view!! Our neighbors continued the show well into the early morning hours...come Monday we were tired!



As we walked through the area Monday morning it looked like the outside of a frat house! There were remains of beer cans, bottles, fireworks, garbage....it was crazy! Thankfully, Starbucks sponsers a clean up Lake Union the day after. So hundreds of volunteers come through the area and pick up trash and recycle. Overall, it was a wonderful Fourth spent with friends, food, and fireworks :)