Weekend Wrap Up

It was another busy weekend at the Odell house. Friday night started off with dinner and drinks at Rock Bottom before heading over to see The Wizard of Oz at the Paramount. Once again, I drank one beer too many, ate a few bites too many, and had a marvelous time with Joel. We both really enjoyed the show; I even heard Joel laugh out loud a few times! Unfortunately, Sunday was the last day of the show, but if it ever comes to town again, you should check it out!

What a handsome date!

I'm not sure why, but I look so shy here - like I'm not sure what to do with a beer this big.
Oh, I know what to do... drink that baby!

Joel went with the Tillamook Bacon Burger and I ordered the Brew House Chicken. Both were very good!

Considering we bought our tickets three days before the show, we had pretty good seats.
Even from way up here, the view was great and the show amazing!

On Saturday we were in our blackout husky gear and down at the stadium for the Husky football game against our rivals, the Oregon Ducks. Aside from the few fans who had too much to drink and took this rival thing a bit too far, it was a good game. We were on our feet, cheering hard for our Dawgs but in the end the Ducks took home the win. Joel's friend Luther, from his High School days, joined us after the game for dinner and drinks at Elliott Bay Brewing Company's Lake City Public House and Brewery. What a mouthful! It was fun to listen to Joel and Luther catch up on the last few years.

Duck is on the menu - Let's go Dawgs!

Joel and I tailgate in the Tyee Club area at Merk's Dawg House - come on by if you are ever at the game.

That's right, Will Ferrell was cheering on the Dawgs!

And louder we got!

First score for the Dawgs!

 

Half time show with the band.

Joel, Me, Adam and Robert

Sunday was filled with laundry, cleaning the house, and of course, the Seahawks! Jackie and Chris came over to watch the game with us and hang out. It was a painful fun game to watch and thankfully we pulled out the win in the end. Jackie made us a sweet potato curry soup that was so good, I am going to have to get that recipe from her. I made Joel an apple crisp (it came out of the oven too late in the evening for Jackie and Chris to joins in). A pretty nice fall weekend; beer, football, friends, soup and apple crisp. I heart the fall.

 

I hope everyone else had an equally fun weekend!

 

XOJO

 

I'm linking up with Kristine at Living Barefoot and Crazy for this football fanatic post!

Be sure to stop by and check out her great blog!

She's Come Undone ...and maybe me too, just a little.

When I heard that Book-It Theatre was performing Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, I knew I had to get tickets. I remember reading this book years ago and feeling really connected with Dolores Price, the main character. Sometimes a book will come along that really grabs me and this was one of them. I won't ruin the story for you, but basically you need to read it.

Since my sister Jackie wasn't able to go with me, sad face, I asked Joel if he wouldn't mind tagging along. Being the wonderful, loving husband he is, he said sure. Who knows if he said yes because he was actually interested in seeing a play, if he actually enjoys attending Book-It, or if he just knew it would make me happy... either way, I had a date. When I looked up tickets, it just so happened that Book-It was selling tickets to the Thursday night performance for $10. That's right, on 10/10 the tickets were only $10. Done and Done. So even though Thursday was our anniversary, we did something that clearly I would get the most enjoyment from. What a guy, right?!



I don't know why, but I just loved these little colored balls on a string... loved them.

I tried to make it up to Joel by picking a Thai restaurant for dinner before the show. That guy has a love for anything Asian, when it comes to his dinner plate. We went to Thai Heaven in Queen Anne, because well, when we were first dating we ate dinner here before seeing the Pacific Northwest Ballet perform the Nutcracker. That night, Joel finally got Thai food so spicy hot that he could not finish his plate. Not only does he love Thai food, but he loves it spicy. To the point of sweating and turning colors, people. So I knew it was just the spot for Thursday night.

Starters... um yes. Of course. I'm celebrating aren't I?!

Not very original order Pad Thai, I know, but it just sounded so good. And it was.

Pad Se Ew - A favorite of Joel's

Of course we finished off our dinner with coconut ice cream. So freaking fantastic.

After dinner we walked the few blocks to the theater and enjoyed a great show (I highly recommend checking it out). Joel even said he enjoyed himself. Once again, who knows if he really enjoyed himself, if he just had a decent amount of enjoyment or if he was just being nice to me, again. I must have told him a million times that night that I felt bad for scheduling something on our anniversary that was clearly for me alone, but he was really nice about the whole thing and said really nice, lovey-dovey stuff that I won't make you jealous with sick with.

A terrible photo I know. But it was dark in there. Also I meant to get another one after the show, but forgot because I was too busy telling Joel how he is the over-moon, wonderfully good to me.

So even though we didn't necessarily go out to eat and see a play in the name of celebrating our anniversary, we did have a wonderful evening together, where we reminisced about our dating years, we toasted to us, (with a Mai Tai - a reminder of our honeymoon in Hawaii where we drank way more than our fair share of those bad boys), and I was reminded of what a truly wonderful husband I have.

Life is so good.

XOJO

Four Years Today!

It was four years ago today that Joel and I said our vows and became husband and wife. Is it strange that I feel like I have been his Mrs. Odell longer than four years and less than four years at the same time? Love is a crazy thing... it makes time fly and stand still at the same time.

Happy Anniversary, My Love.

A Weekend At The Beach

Joel and I were invited back to Manzanita by our friends Mark and Andi for a weekend of fun and relaxation at the beach. I didn't take too many photos mostly because I was super lazy having such a good time.

Mark and Andi were already at the house by the time we arrived on Friday night, so we quickly got settled in and joined them for a few drinks. Did you know that you can buy ice from a bar? Well, we found this out after going on a search for ice around 10:00pm. I know that businesses don't stay open late in sleepy little beach towns, but seriously there wasn't a single place to buy ice for about a ten mile radius. So we decided to try to buy some ice from a bar. The boys stayed in the car, they were too embarrassed to come in with us. So Andi and I walked in, explained our situation, and were given a bag of ice for free!

We spent most of Saturday hanging around the house, wandering up and down the beach, made a quick trip down to the Tillamook Cheese Factory to buy more squeaky cheese, bought some Everclear at a liquor store (gotta get it while in Oregon since the stuff is illegal in Washington), picked up more strawberries for margaritas, ordered pizza for the night, watched the UW Husky football game, and got Mark and Andi hooked on House of Cards (Joel is terrible).

Marzano's is a great place to get some pizza, if you ever find yourself in Manzanita.

Sunday morning was spent watching the Seahawks football game and drinking mimosas. Let's just say that I really enjoyed myself that morning, despite the fact that the Hawks lost their game. On our way back home, we stopped off to have a drink with a friend who is now working in Seaside, as if I needed another one, and of course we made the customary stop at Don Pedro's were we continued to stuff our faces and order extras to take home. That place is just that good.

Joel and I needed this weekend. It was the perfect weekend getaway and we are really looking forward to our next trip with our friends, this time to Leavenworth!

I hope you all had wonderful weekends! Did you get outside to enjoy the amazing weather? Did you also cry when the Hawks lost, or was that just the result of having so many mimosas?

XOJO

P.S. To start your Monday off right, here is a video of Mark and Andi playing with Chloe, their cockapoo, at the beach. She is just the cutest little pup you have ever seen!

Hello... Is anyone still there...

I'm back! I know it has been FOREVER since I last posted something and really all of my excuses are legit super lame. So I will spare you the bore of having to read through all the pathetic reasons why it has been nothing but crickets over here and I will skip into what I have been up to since I left.

1. Celebrated my 29th Birthday

Look - even my beer gave me a happy birthday smile!

 

 2. Went on the Fifth Annual Lake Roosevelt Trip... it was epic

In honor of my birthday, which was two days before the trip, Andi gave me a teria and other "goodies" to continue the celebration of my birthday. Anna even made cupcakes for me and brought a candle for me to blow out.
I have the best friends!

 

3. Celebrated my sister's birthday and cousin's girlfriend's birthday

Somehow these are the only photos that I have of that weekend. I know I have more, but if I wait until I can find them, this post will never happen. Besides, I will post more about this weekend later, since we rode the Seattle Wheel, ate the Space Needle restaurant and had a beautiful time. But here is Joel looking into the sun at the top of the needle and me enjoying lemonade. Happy Birthday Jackie and Laura!



4. Helped to host a baby shower for my bestie's first baby

Such a fun day! That baby girl is so loved!

 

5. Joel and I ran our first half marathon

Before the race...          and...          after we survived.

 

6. Attended the first UW Husky Football game of the year

We are now season ticket holders with Anna & Robert - Hooray for tailgating!

 

7. Hiked up to Snow Lake with friends

 

8. Climbed to the top of Mt. St. Helens

This was one of the hardest things I have done yet, but it was so worth it. Amazing.

 

9. Participated in the 2013 United Way Day of Caring

On September 20 more than 12,000 people in King County completed 448 volunteer projects in one day.
I helped to serve lunch to homeless women at a local shelter.

 

10. Helped host a deck party/tailgate party for a work event that benefits the United Way of King County

Each year my team at the office sells tickets to a deck party at our annual United Way Auction.
Ticket holders are treated an afternoon of good food, great company and a fun time.
This year we tailgated together and watched the Husky football game.

11. Read several books.

 

12. Celebrated Julie's birthday.

 

13. My sister moved out. She has been living with Joel and I for almost three years while working on her nursing degree. We are empty nesters!

 

14. Went to another UW Husky Football game. This time in the pouring down rain.

Record breaking down pour. Even my rubber boots couldn't keep my feet dry. But we still won. Hooray!

 

15. Anna and Robert welcomed their baby girl into this world! When we visited them, Joel held a baby for the first time. I'm just so excited that Eleanor Diana Birch is here and is healthy.

 

16. We have watched every Seahawk game.

 

17. Worked. A lot.

 

18. Today is my father-in-laws birthday. Happy 70th, Jack!

Well that about wraps up what I've been doing while this blog collected dust.  I promise will try really hard to not disappear again, I think I've got my blogging grove back and this place won't be a ghost town any longer.

Today Joel and I leave town early to join up with Mark and Andi in Manzanita, Oregon for another weekend away! I am really looking forward to a weekend of gluttonous behavior and good friends.

I hope you all have wonderful things planned for the weekend.

XOJO