Dizzy Swallows

Finding The Dress

October 24th, 2012 1 Comment

A caviate: This is the first of my wedding related posts. I hereby swear it is not, however, indicative of the next 9 months of posts until our summer wedding, rather a glimpse into my days of late. If you find this sort of thing boring, perhaps I can interest you in this post, or this one. Indeed.

Choosing a wedding dress can be a difficult undertaking. There are many important choices to weigh and consider: style, shape, feel, practicality, color, and the unfortunate truth that the deciding factor is often price. Many people are (rightly) of the opinion that spending a small fortune on a dress you will likely wear for a single day is nothing short of daft. However, the fact remains that a bride must wear something, and her choice is most certainly her own.

After the initial giddy stop at a ridiculously spendy downtown … Continue reading

Happy 4th!

July 4th, 2012

Happy 4th of July to you all! I’m writing from the center of a heap of boxes and half-packed sundry in our deconstructed apartment. Rather than carrying on the rich tradition of lolling about in the sun (what sun, Seattle?), sipping on brews, and sniffing at the barbeque, we will be spending our day packing. Ah yes. However, we will reward ourselves with an evening of enjoying the spectacular Lake Union Fireworks display from my cousin’s 34th floor apartment.

I hope all of you are well, with plans for a lovely summer’s day!… Continue reading

4th In The Sky

July 6th, 2011

Hello my darlings! How was everyone’s long weekend? Ours was packed full to bursting with family, food, sunshine, laughter, farming, and even an Ultimate Frisbee tournament! And now I am struggling to get caught up with work. Sigh. But I did want to share with you a few of the highlights from our 4th of July.

After a lovely, languid day together in the park, we packed off to my cousin’s 34th floor, downtown apartment with marinating jerk chicken and our miniature barbeque in hand.

I also made our favorite garlicky artichoke dip and a watermelon, feta, and mint salad. To add to that, the cuz presented us with buttery soft, smoked seabass, maple-smoked salmon, black truffle infused salami, and Texas’ own Shiner Bock beer. My mother also came down for the festivities, totting produce from the garden and a delicious green salad.

Heavily sated, we were later joined … Continue reading

Bricco and Efeste

June 15th, 2011

On Sunday, Jacob and I embarked on a culinary and vinous adventure at one of Queen Anne’s neighborhood wine bars, Bricco. Accompanied by two of our dearest friends, Hannah and Will, we were feasted with appetizers and five courses of sinfully delicious food, all paired with wines from Washington winery, Efeste.

Appetizers included a selection of salami and prosciutto from Salumi, pride and joy of Seattle’s artisan cured meats community. I give them the high praise of making the best prosciutto I’ve had outside of Italy. We washed the cured meats and soft, fragrant cheese down with a bit of champagne. You know, to start things right.

The menu was certainly meant for carnivores, but was well moderated by in season, local produce.

The first course consisted of buttery-soft albacore. Seared with a grainy crust of exotic salt. Served on a billowy bed of cucumber, crème fraiche … Continue reading

Under the Needle

June 1st, 2011 12 Comments

Hidden Hand Tattoo in Seattle’s Fremont district is, well, hidden. The casual passerby would likely miss it’s quiet alley entrance, despite the best attempts of a helpful sandwich board. Once inside, however, the atmosphere is clean, calm and welcoming; the staff friendly and open. This is where Saturday found me, breezing through hand-painted saloon doors to the back of the shop with owner/artist, Jeff Cornell.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Of course I was. Someone was about to stab me thousands of times with a rather large needle. In the ribs. But they were surface nerves, easily reined in by excitement and knowledge of long planning. Better still, I knew I was in good hands. Jeff not only has an impressive portfolio and a wall full of national awards, but has inked a good friend of mine. I’m all about word of mouth.

Without further ceremony, … Continue reading