Monday Mantra: Pick Yourself Up and Try Again / Walking in the Air

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation".

Every Monday I will post a new thought, idea, or focus for the week. When you need a breather from life, when you need a little inspiration, or when you're about to jump over the conference table and strangle your co-worker, remember the mantra.

Monday Mantra: Pick yourself up and try again, try again - Aaliyah

Society6
PositiveWays

Once upon a time, piano was a huge part of who I was. I'd play for hours on end, slowly molding my fingertips to the keys, tune by tune, rhythm by rhythm.

Walking in the Air was my piece, the piece, my masterpiece. It was the one I played over and over and over again, memorizing every note, every detail, every tick of the metronome until it was perfect. George Winston was my muse and I would listen to his version of the song endlessly - endlessly - until I had it down exactly.

I had an upcoming piano recital in which I'd be playing this glorious song and I was nervous. Although I had memorized it in and out, front and back, I got lost in my anxiety and I couldn't remember anything. The notes blurred on the page and in my memory.

The experience was so bad that I quit studying piano. To be specific, I quit because of the feedback my piano teacher gave me. Instead of encouraging me to continue and move on after my stumble, she told me I wasn't practicing enough, that I wasn't dedicated enough. That maybe I was too interested in boys and not interested enough in this.

Those aren't the words you need to hear when you already feel terrible.

For anyone who has ever stumbled, or who may stumble into the coming year with goals and resolutions that may not work out just as you hoped, I feel you. I know. I get it.

Keep going.

Whatever your failures, your mishaps, your errors- embrace them, learn from them, move on and around them, but do not, I beg you, do not give up.

You will look back years from now and wonder what could have been. You will think too much time has passed and too much energy has been lost and you will wish you had tried harder the first time. You will see all the opportunity you tiptoed around because of fear, of failure, of worry.

Everyone fails. It's one of the greatest gifts in life, failure. It is a teacher, a guide, a lesson. It is the first step on a courageous path of trying, trying, trying and, yes, eventually succeeding.

That's the secret. That's it. Just keep trying.
_

This is my last post for the year, friends. I always give myself a little time off around this time of year to unwind. Be kind to yourself and give yourself a break if you need it, too.

And remember, be kind with whatever resolutions and goals you're setting for this new year. Believe in yourself and give yourself time. You've got this.

Here's my favorite version of Walking in the Air by George Winston, if you care to listen. And here's another version that my friend Noah calls "mean" (in a good way) because it's just a little bit rougher and tougher around the edges, while still being incredibly beautiful.

The Reflection of Shadows: Seeker. Sifter. Liar. Thief.

The Reflection of Shadows

A collection of moments

Society6

Seeker. Sifter. Liar. Thief.

Seeker.
Sifter.
Liar.
Thief.

Trap doors opening,
Bended knees.
Tricks for treats
And rusty keys.

Seeking,
Searching,
Endlessly.

Seeker.
Sifter.
Liar.
Thief.

Choosing, taking
What you need.
Take the best-
The rest are weak.

Sifting,
Sieving,
Fervently.

Seeker.
Sifter.
Liar.
Thief.

You paint a picture
For us to see.
The words slip out,
Tongue to cheek.

Lying,
Faking,
Savagely.

Seeker.
Sifter.
Liar.
Thief.

Rummaging through
Others things.
Up for grabs
And grabs for keeps.

Thieving,
Stealing,
Ruthlessly.

Sweet and Savory Stuffed Acorn Squash

Here in Arizona we have approximately two seasons: SUMMER and "Winter." Fall isn't a real thing and, if we're lucky, we get three days of Spring. Because it's technically my "Winter" right now, I'm all about warm dishes of deliciousness, like this baby below. It's gluten free, dairy free, and easy to make!

Sweet and Savory Stuffed Acorn Squash

Serves 4
 - 2 acorn squash
 - 1 package of Applegate Farms Chicken and Maple Sausage 
 - 1 celery stalk diced up
 - 1 TBSP of dried gluten free bread crumbs (I used my go-to bread, Three Bakers 7 Ancient Grains)
 - 1/2 of a sweet and crisp apple diced up (Gala, Honey Crisp, etc.)
 - 1/4 (or less) chipotle pepper
 - 1 TSP dried Italian seasonings
 - Salt and Pepper for sprinkling
 - Coconut oil for baking

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Cut each acorn squash in perfect halves. Oil them up with a little coconut oil, then evenly sprinkle them with some salt and pepper, the Italian seasoning, and the chipotle pepper. Place them on a lightly greased baking pan and bake for 40 minutes.

2. In a pan, start cooking the sausage. After the sausage is close to being done, add the celery, bread crumbs, and apples and cook for about 2 - 3 minutes.

3. Once the 40 minutes is up, take the acorn squash out of the oven and evenly distribute the sausage, apple, celery, and bread crumbs into each half of squash. Add a sprinkling more of Italian seasoning to all four halves, then pop back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.

4. Eat!

The Reflection of Shadows: Have a Little Faith

The Reflection of Shadows

A collection of moments

Society6

Have a Little Faith

Hey there,
Hey there,
Look at me.
I'm what you're missing,
What you need.
Look out,
Look in,
Look at your soul.
I'm all around-
I make you whole.
I'm in your heart,
I'm in your mind,
I'm in the places that you hide.
Relax,
Relax,
And let me in.
Don't be afraid-
Give in,
Give in.
I'm what you want,
And what you need
Is simply,
Simply,
To believe.

Monday Mantra: Perspective Adjustment

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation".

Every Monday I will post a new thought, idea, or focus for the week. When you need a breather from life, when you need a little inspiration, or when you're about to jump over the conference table and strangle your co-worker, remember the mantra.

Monday Mantra: What if you were thankful all the time?

Society6
White Feathers Design

At this time of year, I always feel extra grateful. I'm sure we all do; it's what the holiday season is about, after all.

It's been quite the year, hasn't it?

The good and the bad, the truth and the lies, the devastation and the never surrendering hope, hope hope.

I recently had what I would call a Perspective Adjustment. A chance to change the way I saw and felt about something because something else jumped into my path and made me re-think, well, everything.

This thing would be a job opportunity that came out of the blue from a dear friend of mine. It was an amazing offer; excellent pay, something I'd love and was well qualified for, plus returning to an area I know in and out, but with a brand new job title to add to my resume. It was comfortable and exciting, all at the same time.

But, for a number of reasons, I opted against it. While each and every reason carries it's own weight, one of the most interesting was how having this offer come up caused me to re-think what I was already doing. How it made me reconsider frustrations and complaints I'd been feeling about my current job. All the tiny, minuscule things that, if left to fester too long over time, build up and make themselves seem so much bigger and more important than they really are.

It hit me out of nowhere, if I'm being honest.

I don't have a bad job. Not in any sense of the word. It can be frustrating, infuriating, and annoying, but in the end it is good through and through. I just kind of forgot that for a while. That's what happens when you do something for a long time and you get used to your woes and complaints. You start to see them as major events when really they're almost nothing at all in the big scheme of life and work. It's like that saying, "First world white people problems," where people complain about things no one should ever have a right to complain about, like having no WiFi at a restaurant. It's complete insanity.

I was being a little insane, too.

My recent Perspective Adjustment woke me up to not only all of the good in what I do now, but to a lot of the good around me that I take for granted. It made me thankful for things I've forgotten to be thankful for in quite some time.

It has been an excellent lesson, a great wake up, a wonderful eye-opener.

It made me think: What if we were thankful all the time? 

How different our lives would be if we noticed not just the big things, but the small, common, every day ones, like indoor plumbing, more clothes than we need to choose from and complain about all the time, and the ability to have our favorite TV show record while we're out doing whatever the hell we want all thanks to this magical little box called a DVR.

We humans are so silly sometimes. The things we think of, the things we torture ourselves over or complain endlessly about- all the things we have chosen to reflect negatively on for no real reason.

Maybe we could all use a little bit of a Perspective Adjustment? Maybe we could all be a little more appreciative like Parker, from Friends, who saw the good in all things. I mean, not quite like him, because it was a little much, but you get the idea.

I am thankful for all of you, and that is something I will not forget nor take for granted at this time of year or any other.

The Reflection of Shadows: Trying

The Reflection of Shadows

A collection of moments

Society6

Trying

I'm not trying to go downhill,
I'm trying to stay upright.

I'm not trying to go downhill,
I'm trying to stay upright.

I'm not trying to fall-
Not trying to fall.

I want to stand and fight.

But I'm...

Breaking,
Shaking.
Reaching.
Grasping.

Searching for the light.

It's the Most Wonderful (Shopping) Time of the Year

2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Society6
Low Star Studio

It's that time of year for, you know, eating and shopping and family and shopping and decorating and, hey, more shopping! In my house, I'm CEO of all things gift related for everyone, which means I've got a lot of experience figuring out what to get all kinds of people with all kinds of various present preferences. Here are some of my favorites in hopes of helping you with your holiday shopping list

For the Organic Product Person

Know someone who's all about great body products? I'm talking shampoo, lotion, oils, etc? Here's a site you need to check out: Maple Holistics. My recommendation is the tea tree shampoo and conditioner. As an essential oil, tea tree is know for it's cleansing and soothing-to-the-scalp properties. Add that in with the other oils found in this product and you have yourself a masterpiece of hair art.

Maple Holistics

You know how you always hear about product build up in your hair? This will solve that problem. After each use, my hair was literally squeaky clean- I kid you not. I'd run my hands through my hair and a squeak would emit. One thing I will note is that if you have finer, longer hair like me, you're going to want to double up on the conditioner for the ends. It can get a little tangly, but with the right amount of conditioner following the shampoo, you're good to go. Also, the shine, you guys. The shine! I noticed a serious amount of gloss and gleam after using this product.

They have subscription boxes (which are all the rage, as I'm sure you know- see below), beard oil, cosmetics- you name it, they've got it. The nice folks at Maple Holistics are giving away free samples, so make sure you grab that up as well!

For the Foodie Who Loves An Adventure

Look no further, friends. Try the World is an all in one food/traveling adventure in a box. It's a super fun, super cute, and super affordable gift for anyone in your clan who loves experiencing the world through new and amazing foods. My sister-in-law gifted me with this last year and I loved it! My box was all about India: food, tea, even henna art. It's a gift that shows you get who this person is and what they're interested in.

Try The World

For the Person Who Has Everything / Is Super Hard to Shop For

Uncommon Goods

Two words: Uncommon Goods. This has long been a favorite of mine for it's vast and ever changing collection of super unusual gifts. I'm not even sure where to start, gang. There are just so many options!

This pistachio pedestal; I've gifted it three times, it's that cool. Or these ocean reel salt and pepper mills. Or this beer cap map for the beer enthusiast in your group.

Oh man, you guys. I just found 10 more things I want to buy...for myself.

For the Person Who Can Take a Joke (Also great as a While Elephant gift)

These candles are, hands down, one of my most favorite things in the world. Need something for your bother from another mother? Your sarcastic office BFF? Your second cousins first wives neighbors brother who just won't take a hint? I give you: Flick Candles aka Classy Candles for the Classless.

Scents include: Fantasy Football Failure, The Friend Zone, and Love Me Tinder, to name a few.

Flick Candles

For the Book Loving, Quiet Seeking, Introvert Friend

Tea is a vital part of my life, and is hugely popular in my house. I could spend hours talking to you about all the goodness that is tea, but since it's the holiday season and no one has time for that, let's get down to business.

Between Harney and Sons and Kusmi, you have endless tea options- all of which are amazing. I swear by both companies and have been a long time customer of both. If I had to narrow it down to my go-to "everyone loves these" flavors, I'd say:

Kusmi

Harney and Sons: Hot Cinnamon Spice. There is something so warming, so cozy, so life giving in this tea that when you sit down to a cup of it, it really does make everything in that moment peaceful and calm and good. There are a lot of teas that try to live up to this same flavor combination but this one, this tea, is THE TEA.

Kusmi: Strawberry Green Tea. Thinking about this tea makes my mouth water, and not just because it's excellent. It will literally make your senses jump to life when you open the container thanks to the sweet smell of strawberries. Plus, the tin it comes in is super cute. I repurpose them as vases and mini-gardens. Win-win!



Note: The Kusmi site was under construction when I posted this, but if you Google "Kusmi Strawberry Green Tea" you'll find it!

The Reflection of Shadows: Through Fire and Ice

The Reflection of Shadows

A collection of moments

Society6

Through Fire and Ice

I'll get the matches and you get the guns,
We'll both fight our way through the land that we love.

We'll stand for the young and we'll stand for the old,
We'll stand for the people who are freezing in the cold.

We'll part down the middle; going left, going right-
They won't see us coming through the fire and ice.


I'll warn the children to stay safe, to go home.
You get the men who've been worked to the bone.

I'll fight for vengeance, you fight for love.
We'll meet in the middle with an understood trust.

We'll rest in the morning, take watch through the night-
They won't see us coming through the fire and ice.


You keep your wits about you, I'll keep my might.
You risk you safety and I'll risk my life.

We'll stand with the fallen; we'll do what should be done.
We'll burn and we'll melt, then we'll vanish in the sun.

And when the smoke is clearing in the dawning of the light,
They won't have seen us coming through the fire and ice.

In The World of Wellness: The Demonization of Gluten (Podcast)

In the World of Wellness: Interesting...

WWJD???
(Unknown original source of this cartoon)

If you're a longtime reader of mine, you know gluten is my arch nemesis in life. While I do not have celiac disease, I do have a fairly significant intolerance to gluten. When I eat it, alarms go off in my body. My hands almost immediately ache, as if I have severe arthritis. My stomach churns, and what feels like tiny little bombs explode in my belly. My hair falls out, too.

It sucks.

The Demonization of Gluten by the folks at Freakonomics is interesting. While it offers some very insightful historical data on the background of gluten and celiac research, it also talks about the cons of people going on gluten free diets when they shouldn't, as well as how people can be misdiagnosed.

I won't ruin it for you, but it's worth a listen.

Take care, friends.

The Reflection of Shadows: When You Search For Me

The Reflection of Shadows

A collection of moments

Society6

When You Search For Me

(written to a tune)

I love the way you smile, even when you're scared,
I love your heartache because you care,
I hate the moments you crumble and break,
But your love and compassion can't be taken away.

I made you perfect all the way through,
I made you special; there's no one like you.
I gave you life and I gave you choice,
And sometimes disaster helps you find your voice.

When you search for me,
When you look to me,
Some answers you seek
Aren't the answers you need.
Your strength is determined,
You'll find your way through,
When you search for me
I will find you.

I love the way you think life is too hard,
And I love the way you need to take charge,
I love your passion, your desire, and drive
Because you know the value of love in this life.

When you search for me,
When you search for me,
Close your eyes,
I am here,
I am what you need.
When you search for me,
When you look to me,
Those are the moments I know you believe.

I love the way you never give up,
When push comes to shove you give all that you've got.
I love your secrets, your wishes, and dreams
And the way that you search for the meaning of things.

When you're feeling weak,
When you search for me,
When your questions need answers
That won't let you sleep,
When there's more to the task
Than what's given at hand,
You believe in me
And I'll show you the plan.

When you search for me,
When you search for me,
In your moments of frailty,
I see you believe.
When you search for me,
When you look to me,
Close your eyes,
I am here,
I am what you need.

I am here by your side
And you'll find your way through,
When you search for me
I will find you.

All Around the World: The PNW

"To live is the rarest thing in the world.
Most people exist, that is all."
 - Oscar Wilde

Portland, OR

I've been hearing about the Pacific North West (or the PNW if you're in the know, you know) for years, but I hadn't ventured into Oregon or Washington at all. Needless to say, I was excited for this trip, y'all. Excited.

Gluten Free Dining in Portland

Brunch Box 
 - This place has my new favorite breakfast sandwich. It was so good, I considered eating it for dinner the next day...and breakfast the day after that. (I didn't, but I thought about it long and hard.)

Salt and Straw
 - Yes, it's popular and yes, it's good, but to be honest, I wasn't as blown away by it as I was expecting to be. Maybe it had just been built up way too much, I don't know. The line was incredibly long, but it moved fast, and the service was great. It still didn't see like the most amazing ice cream ever, which I did end up discovering later on during this trip, as you'll see below. That being said, very close by is Tea Chai Te. They have an excellent and huge selection of teas, plus a cozy little place to hang out and relax for a bit. Definitely worth a visit, tea friends of mine.

The Hazel Room
 - You must go here. I had one of the very best breakfasts ever, as did my non-gluten free husband. Plus, in the same building you'll find Altar, a super chic little store with clothes, lotions, jewelry, and crystals galore.

VooDoo Donuts
 - While they (still) don't offer GF donuts, it is a must for anyone you might be traveling with that doesn't have a gluten intolerance. Let's be real- our friends and family always have to plan their meals around our allergies, so we owe it to them to let them have their own delicious experiences, even if we don't benefit. Very often my hubby and I check out my GF spots and his non-GF spots, so everyone gets a little something-something.

Portland's food carts or pods (as they're called)
 - There is a rather large selection of GF options at various pods throughout the city, so just do some research before hand so you know which ones to look for and where exactly to go. I tried the Grilled Cheese Grill and, unfortunately, felt a little ill afterward. Be careful when you're out there and lookout for cross contamination.

Le Pigeon
 - An incredibly cute, cozy, and elegant establishment with a rather large selection of items. The duck salad is absolutely worth ordering. I would've ordered three of those and just called it a day if I'd know it was going to be that good.

Petunia's Pies and Pastries 
 - Holy taste buds! This is a must...for dinner. The name doesn't explain it, but they offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is all vegetarian, so heads up for my meat loving friends, but my veggie pot pie was unfathomably delicious. I would pay a lot money to have that baby shipped to my house. Yes, yes I would.

Things To Do In and Around Portland

 Powell's Books, y'all.
 - GO HERE. If you enjoy reading, if you enjoy browsing, if you just want to see a ginormous book store, go here. I'm still floating on cloud nine after visiting this place. There are different levels, which are separated by different themes, there's food and shopping, and oh so many books. It was love at first sight.

 The Meadow is definitely worth a visit.
  - This little store offers big things in the ways of salt and chocolate, plus some. I've never seen so many chocolate bars in one place, or so many kinds.

Street Art Discoveries
 - Portland has a lot of street graffiti (aka awesome murals) all over the city, so be sure to check them out. You'll almost always stumble upon one without even trying. The giant lovely lady you see to your left will be vanishing soon. Apparently, something is going to be built that will block most or all of her, so go check her out while you can.

Nature
 - We spent a lot of time in the downtown area, but we also purposely rented a car to get out into nature. It turned out to be a massive fail, but at least I can warn you.

Our plan was to visit Multnomah Falls and then hike through Oneonta Gorge. Such a bad idea, you guys. First of all, it was crowded. Disneyland crowded. There was no parking and we got stuck in a ridiculous line of cars for a solid hour. What I thought (based on what I'd read) would've been a nice, easy visit took hours. HOURS. And honestly, it didn't feel worth it after everything was said and done. If you've seen one waterfall, you've seen them all.

The gorge was the one item I'd really been waiting for. If you google pictures of it, you'll see what I mean. It's a photographers dream. But here's the harsh reality that I was completely unaware of until we got there: It's not meant to be hiked. At least, not a certain part of it (right off the main road) according to the park rangers and the folks in charge of the area.

When you arrive, you literally walk into what appears to be Mother Nature's attempt at blocking you off from entering. You are greeted with the remains of a rock/log slide. Giant boulders and huge chunks of trees block off the entrance to the gorge. And they're not stable, gang! No, no. They wobble when you're on them, they get super slippery and wet from the kazillions of people trying to cross, and it's just down right unpleasant.

Honestly, it felt like Mother Nature was saying "Listen, mother effers, you are not welcome here." The hubs and I got halfway through and decided this was all wrong, so wrong, so, so wrong, so we got the heck out of there. Apparently (and not at all surprisingly, based on what I saw) people have broken body parts trying to get to the gorge through this path. Oh, and someone died. So yeah, not exactly what I had in mind. I think there's another entrance somewhere, but I'm not a navigation/hiking/wilderness expert. You'd think if you saw hundreds of people gathered around a certain area that would mean this is the entrance, no? No. Whatever the case may be, it's not safe and you should know that in advance.

Cathedral Park and St. Johns Bridge
 - Basically as cool and beautiful as every picture on Pinterest leads you to believe. Forest Park is also right across the way and far more worth your time (if you ask me) as far as a hiking place to check out. It's just more convenient and you still get some serious views with amazing greenness all around you.

Powell's

The Meadow

The waterfall that took forever to get to.

The gorge. See what I mean? 
(Sorry it's blurry. My life was flashing before my eyes.)

St. John's Bridge

Forest Park

On our way to Seattle, we stopped in the little bitty town of Vernonia, OR for one reason and one reason only: this fuel bunker.

There is nothing I love more than abandoned things, except maybe abandoned things covered in graffiti. It's super easy to find, too. Just plug in Vernonia Lake, park in the parking lot at the entrance, and then walk 10 minutes around the path and you're there.

Cannon Beach

Our next stop was Cannon Beach, where we spent the afternoon. It was jam packed, but gorgeous nonetheless. The beach, the buildings, the shops- everything is beautiful at Cannon Beach.

Wayfarer is a great choice for food. I had an awesome salad and got some killer views of the beach, all in one. We also stopped and got some ridiculously good ice cream at Schwietert's. I'm talking some of the best ice cream of my life. Save the calories you would have used at Salt and Straw and go here instead.

The last piece of Oregon you'll experience is Astoria (you know it from Kindergarten Cop) and it's magnificent bridge. Gorgeous.

We kept the rental car to drive along HWY 101 to Seattle and, I have to say, this was one of my favorite things about our trip. The sunset + the forest + the water = picture mania.

(Warning: Prepare to be bombarded with photos of aforementioned beauty.)

Overall, we really enjoyed our time in Portland and all around Oregon. I would definitely go back again to find some new adventures in this gorgeous part of the country. And for the crazy good food. Mmm...food.


Seattle, WA
If you're a fan of 10 Things I Hate About You, then you're probably my kind of person and we should be friends. That's beside my point, so let me re-focus. If you saw the movie (and fell in love with Heath Ledger like millions of other people did) then you also probably fell in love with Seattle, at least what you saw of it in the movie.

I've been waiting that long to come check it out, and it finally happened.
*throws fists in the air triumphantly*

Gluten Free Dining in Seattle 

Biscuit Bitch
 - GF biscuits and gravy? For reals?! Yes, guys. Yes. Biscuit Bitch is a must, but get there before they run out of GF biscuits and before the lines get crazy.

Shaker + Spear
 - An excellent choice for a night out on the town. I am a die hard seafood fan, so I was rather elated to see grilled octopus on the menu. My taste buds were also elated.

Pie 
 - Located not too far away from the lovely Fremont Troll, this was a nice happenstance after a long day's adventure. They have one savory and one sweet GF option every day, so you'll have to do some advance research to see if the flavors they're offering are of interest to you.

Pike Place Chowder
 - They offer two GF options, but I wasn't a big fan of either. That being said, this is another one of those great places "normal" people should check out. My hubby thoroughly enjoyed his chowder and sandwich.

Macrina Bakery
 - They offer two to three delicious GF items. The fruit that's on/in them changes daily, but you'll always get roughly the same pastry options. I had the strawberry biscuit and my mouth is watering thinking about it now.

Elliot's Oyster House
 - This awesome restaurant is located right on the water in the very popular pier area. I had an excellent salmon dish with equally excellent fresh veggies.

Rocco's 
 - Not only is the decor awesome, but my GF pizza was excellent. EXCELLENT. The customer service was also pretty doggone impressive.

Steepologie
 - Thirsty? Then hit up this refreshing tea store. The options are endless and the service is great.

Rocco's GF mushroom pizza

Steepologie

Things To Do In and Around Seattle

Pike Place Market, y'all.
I know, I know; it's the most obvious and touristy thing you can probably think of, but it is awesome. We went back several times, that's how much there is to see and do...and eat!

 - Tiny's Organic is my new favorite of all favorites. The apple cider is to die for. They have regular apple cider, blackberry apple cider, peach, pear, and - my favorite - cherry apple cider. I went to this place so many times I made friends with the guy running the stand. This seriously needs to be at the top of your list, gang. 

 - Chukar Cherries: Almost every single thing is GF and you can try almost every single thing. Delish cherry products, that is no doubt. Plus, the folks running the counter are hilarious and might even tell you a story while you're there.

 - Sunny Honey Company has the cutest and biggest selection of flavored honey sticks! I have a few honey lovers in my family, so these made perfect little surprise gifts. 

 - Moon Valley Organics has some seriously amazing lotions and potions. Plus, the owner is super sweet. Just meeting her and chatting with her was worth a visit.

 - Cinnamon Works is right across from Pike's Place and is a gem. There's an entire section of their display window dedicated to GF baked goods. Definitely check them out!

My new BFF with my favorite apple cider.

The Suzzallo Library
 - A sight to see if you're in the area and want a quick peak. If you're a Harry Potter fan, then you definitely want to check it out. Trust me.

Olympic Sculpture Park
 - Nice sculptures and good for a nice walk, but not a must see if you only have so much time to spare. That being said, there is a really cute beach down below the park where seals sometimes hang out, which is adorable.

The Space Needle
 - No need to visit it directly, folks. There are views of the city everywhere you go because Seattle is hilly as hell. If you're dying to go up to the top of the needle, go for it, but it's not necessary in my opinion.

Chihuly Garden and Glass
 - The glass art work is absolutely stunning, but it does cost a pretty penny to get in and the place is a lot smaller than one would think. If you aren't a glass lover, then skip this and use your time elsewhere.

Downtown Seattle

The beach near Olympic Sculpture Park

Chihuly

The Pier

Suzzallo

Now for your 10 Things I Hate About You adventuring pleasure:

 - Gasworks Park (where they filmed the paint balloon scene) it actually rather cool. I didn't think I'd dig it as much as I did, but once you're there, it kind of hits home how unusual and weirdly awesome the place is. Unfortunately, with all of our travels in and around the PNW this year, there was a boatload of smoke due to the terrible fires. I'm talking ash falling on us kind of smoke. I'm guessing Seattle (and Portland) are probably even more gorgeous with clear skies. I truly hope the fires are under control and everyone is safe and sound.

 - Fremont Troll is a must. It's a troll under a bridge. Need I say more? Plus, when you're out and about on this side of town there's some rather excellent stores to check out. Start with the troll and then keep on going.

 - Kerry Park: First of all, this is not a park. That is a bold faced lie. This is a strip of grass with a great view and a teeny tiny playground off to the side- but that's it. Honestly, the views aren't even that great if you ask me thanks to dozens of cranes all along the coast. There are a lot of good views of the city, so be open minded to other options.

Side Note: The amazing high school and the house from the film aren't actually in Seattle. For those babies, you'd have to venture over to Tacoma.

All in all, I would say our trip in the PNW was pretty amazing. You can never go wrong with great views and delicious food. I completely see the lure of these lovely places and why the PNW is a sought after destination.