A Cup of Happiness

Today there is reason to celebrate in my world, the return of the Starbucks RED cup!  While on my 6 mile "easy run" this morning around GreenLake, I was a little grumpy until I saw what I thought and knew to be... a red cup!  I know this may seem very trivial and silly and a complete buy in to marketing techniques but I say the red cup is so much more than that.  To me it is the beginning of the holiday season, and I don't just mean Christmas.  Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and honestly my favorite holiday of the season.  To me the red cup is a sign that the holidays are here, memories will be made, amazing food will be shared and a bit of magic is in the air.  I can tell you that the red cup also has memories attached to it.  I remember countless times with friends over a red cup, shopping trips, hair appointments or just something to keep my hands warm.  But don't worry too much, I can't bring myself to get a holiday flavored treat inside the red cup just yet, that would just be wrong.  Besides what is wrong with a little PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) in November?  Absolutely nothing, especially if you are drinking it from a RED cup!

Happy Howl-oween!

One of  my favorite holidays is Halloween and now that I have two dog to dress up and take trick or treating, it just makes it even more fun!  So on Halloween I got my boys all dressed up and we all headed over to Ryan's sister Joni's house for dinner, football (it was Monday night after all) and of course the main event... Trick Or Treating!  We had a great time, the kids got a TON of candy and the dogs even got a few treats at houses! 

Hercules - There's a new sheriff in town!! He loved his costume he kept it on all day

Roscoe - Dracula Dog, he did NOT like his costume and Ryan felt it was a little girly and too tight for Roscoe.  Half way through trick or treating he needed to take off his costume

Oh did I mention that I dressed up too - its me as Quinn Fabray from Glee!!

Quinn and Sheriff dog Hercules

Ryan's nephew Dyllan, LOVES Hercules.  He was a gorilla but with the black costume on you can hardly tell where Dyllan ends and Herc begins!  So sweet together.

Dyllan the gorilla by himself!

Dawg Dash

Okay, so my blog is WAY over due.  You see... some wine spilled into my computer and I no longer can use my enter or delete key...kind of important for blog writing.  So thanks to my amazing and wonderful boyfriend, I am writing on his computer.  He promises to let me use it for future blog posts too.  Sooo, without further delay here is my Dawg Dash post.

So my running bug is crazy strong right now, as is Ryan's (this is probably a good thing considering I would probably be very difficult to live with right now if you didn't understand this or were not going through half marathon training too)  So back on October 23rd Ryan and I ran in the Dawg Dash.  It's a 10k race that starts outside Husky Stadium, runs through University of Washington campus and finishes on the track inside Husky Stadium.  This year, this race was the last event to be held on the track inside Husky Stadium because it is undergoing MAJOR reconstruction and the track will be taken out and seats moved closer to the field.  We both had a great race and great times.  I was really booking it and ran my first mile at 8:39 - hello where did that come from!  And I PRed my 5k time too.  It was a great day, a great race and I can't wait to run it next year.

Dawg Dash finishers on the field

Crazy little thing called the running bug

Once upon a very long time ago...(almost six years ago to be exact) I met two girls that would in a way change my life.  On Halloween 2006, my very first shift in the ER in Chicago I met Hillary Moon (now Sanders) and Amy Haug.  They invited me to go to Starbucks with them, I knew we were going to be instant friends.  A few weeks later these seemingly uncrazy women asked me if I wanted to run a half marathon with them, I said sure even though I didn't really intend on doing it, heck I had only run 2 miles at once ever in my life.  Out of desperation of wanting friends or a little bit of craziness in my own right, I decided to do it!  I was going to train with these amazing women and I was going to run a half marathon.  I still remember pouring over Marathoning for Mortals by John Bingham like it was gospel.  I learned how to train, how to eat, how to think like a long distance athlete.  I remember the first time I ran 5 miles, 6 miles (Amy and Jon that was the whiny run when I wanted to take a cab), the time I ran 8 miles all like it was yesterday.  I remember my first race, the 2007 Shamrock Shuffle and running it with Amy and Hillary side by side ...in matching outfits no less.  And I remember lining up a the starting line of the Indy Mini, our chosen half marathon wondering, can I really do this??  I did do it, and so did Amy and Hillary!  It was fun and we were so proud of our accomplishment.  

I ran 3 other half marathons over the next few years and trained for the Chicago marathon only to get injured and somehow vowed I would never run a marathon because I knew I could do it because I had run 22 miles in training.  I have fallen in and out of love with running, this amazing and CRAZY sport over the years but right now I am absolutely crazy in love with it again.  I am running the Seattle half marathon the Sunday after Thanksgiving and recently have been getting the bug to run a marathon again.  Luckily there are plenty of crazys right here in Seattle to support me in this dream, including Ryan.  He too is running the Seattle half, his first, and I can't wait to line up at the starting line with him and to be there with him to celebrate at the end.  

Here are a few pictures from that first half marathon that started all this CRAZY love...

Here I am, ready to run 13.1

Me, Hillary, and Amy about mile 11-12, we still look pretty happy

Finishers!!!! With our medals and of course matching outfits head to toe

I am not really sure what I am doing here, but I always have loved this shot of me and Hillary

Don't Mess with a Texas Wedding

Last week I flew to Houston, Texas to witness the marriage of my sophomore roommate Elizabeth (Liz) Parke to Darren Kincaid!  I was so honored just to be there to witness the love between these two people.  I was also so excited to be part of the rehearsal dinner and their house party.  Liz and I were sorority sisters at Miami University... Zeta Tau Alphas, (Only the best get crowned) and have kept in touch over the years through phone calls and Christmas calls, but hadn't seen each other in awhile until Darren was on a business trip to Seattle and I finally got to meet him and catch up in person with Liz.  We had a great time and they even got to enjoy a meal at The Stone House.  The best news is that Darren will be doing a lot of work in Seattle and will be coming often so we are excited about hosting them in the future.  Okay... back to the wedding!  I had a great time and really enjoyed all the amenities of the St. Regis Houston! Here are a few pictures from the hotel...

I seriously felt like a queen here

The bar area...

Pretty bathroom, it also had a HUGE tub! I made sure to take a bubble bath... Oh and it had a phone in the bathroom, you have no idea how bad I wanted to make a call from that phone.

Welcome cookies from the bride and groom... delicious and they had my favorite, Snickerdoodles.

Time to relax by the pool

Liz and Darren had a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Bell Tower on 34th, Houston's premier location for weddings!  We then moved inside for cocktails, dinner, dancing and SERIOUSLY the best wedding band ever...Time Machine.  It was so fun to catch up with old friends, sorority sisters and to meet new friends too!  My pictures seriously do not to any justice to this beautiful bride, handsome groom and bridal party and amazingly beautiful reception.  I will post a link to the photographers pictures when they are available. 

The guys... Loved watching Darren watch Liz walk down the aisle

The girls... so pretty with those purple gowns

Time for vows... almost Mr. and Mrs.

You are now Mr. and Mrs. Darren and Elizabeth Kincaid!  Kiss the Bride!

The reception room

A wine and Tuscany theme and olive oil for a party gift

The cake... delicious

Miami girls and Zeta girls

First dance time

Me with the Beautiful bride

Meet the Beast... Hercules!

I just wanted to write a quick post with some pictures to introduce all of you to Hercules!! Ryan and I have been thinking about getting another dog for a little while now.  We have been looking on petfinder, at the shelters and even got on a few waiting lists for puppies that didn't work out but we just kept looking and a few weeks ago found a 4 year old Newfoundland/Lab mix on petfinder.  He definitely fit a lot of what we were looking for (a big dog preferably a Newfie or Bernese) and he was already crate trained and housebroken!!  We traveled out to Black Diamond, Washington to Puget Sound Rescue to meet "Billy" (Herc's name before we changed it).  We immediately fell in love with him, the next test was if he and Roscoe got along.  They did really well and even played a little at their first meeting so we brought him home with us!  A few funny and entertaining things about Hercules:

1)His name...like Hercules from the Sandlot, it seemed perfect for him! And he already knows his name

2) When in a car he hangs his head out the window and attempts to "get" the other cars - HIGHLY entertaining to anyone watching!

3)Yes he is crate trained, but he can also Houdini his way out of the crate.  The crate remains intact, the dog appears untouched and he doesn't get into trouble just gets out of the crate

4)The boy can eat... FAST! We have clocked him at 16 seconds for 2 cups of food!

5) When driving with him he looks like a small bear in the car, it makes for a lot of entertaining looks from people

6) He is so loving and sweet and gentle with kids, we can't figure out why someone would not want him, but we are glad that he is ours

Getting to know one another!

I love this picture, except that their eyes make them look really creepy

Let's hold hands

Happy Birthday Stone House

Throughout the summer and for other special occasions (New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day) Ryan does wine dinners on Sunday nights.  It is a great way for his customers to learn more about the amazing wines of Washington and the Pacific Northwest and provides a way for Ryan to be creative in his menu planning.  I am constantly amazed by what he does and I am always thinking he could never top this, yet each time is better than the previous one.  The biggest wine dinner is on the anniversary of The Stone House opening in September of 2008.  It is always with Stevens Winery.  Tim Stevens has been a family friend of the Donaldson's for years and now has his own winery, with some of the best wines in Washington.  If you ever have the opportunity to try his wines do not miss it!  I love these wines!  This year's Anniversary Dinner was really incredible.  Ryan did 12 courses with 5 main wine pairings and two different champagne pairings.  The dinner ran four hours but as a customer that night it never felt that long because I was constantly being challenged and surprised by the menu.  I am so proud of Ryan and the hard work, dedication and passion he puts into his work every day.

Menu of the fantastic dinner to come

Course #1: Oyster, Creme Fraiche, Caviar paired with champagne

What a decadent and rich way to start the evening 

Course #2: Textured Mojito

Think Mojito jello shot!  On top is spun sugar (read cotton candy) toped with mint - delicious

Course #3: Lemon, Sage, Sugar

A lovely palate cleansing amuse, I took a small bite before I took the picture, opps! It was like a little sponge that melted in your mouth

Course #4: Sope, Coconut, Red Pepper paired with 2010 Stevens Viognier

So yummy! The sope corn cake on the bottom topped with fresh crab, on the side a gelee of red pepper and coconut topped with avocado, spicy and smooth

 

Course #5: Salmon, Peach, Hazelnut, Lily paired with 2010 Stevens Viognier

This was the first of the interactive dishes on the menu, notice the salmon is over a bowl of lilies, the waitresses brought out hot steaming water and poured it into the bowls so that the smell of the lilies emanated the room and brought the flowers of the wine into the food.  Oh and the food was pretty amazing too!  Salmon cooked perfectly crusted in hazelnut with a peach sauce, wow!

Course #6: Dork Balls, Zucchini, Tomato, Cheese paired with 2008 Stevens Cabernet Franc

This was a really fun play on an old classic spaghetti and meatballs!  The Dork ball is a meatball made of duck and pork - read oh so delicious!! the Zucchini are sliced and cooked quickly to have the consistency of noodles with a tomato sauce and little cheese on top.  This was one of my favorite courses of the night.

Course #7: Duck, Endive, Marionberry, Licorice paired with 2008 Stevens Cabernet Franc

Perfectly cooked duck over sauteed endive and a licorice sprinkled on top with a marionberry dipping sauce.  This really complemented the Cabernet Franc beautifully.

 

Course #8: Foie Gras, Toast, Blackberry, Licorice paired with 2008 Stevens 424 Blend

Just a last little amuse before the last two main courses, a little foie gras decadence with blackberry and licorice to bring out the flavors of the wine, probably my favorite of the Stevens Winery the 424 blend!

Course #9: Buffalo, Fig, Gnocchi, Goat, Grape paired with Stevens 424 Blend

This was another perfectly cooked piece of buffalo and another interactive moment of the dinner.  The fig part of the dish is that encapsulation over the gnocchi (handmade of course).  You would break the encapsulation with your fork and out would pour a lovely fig sauce to enjoy with the buffalo, gnocchi and the goat cheese in the middle of the plate.

Course #10: Wagyu, Potato, Red, Blue, Rosemary paired with Stevens XY Cabernet Sauvignon

This was the most fun and I think the best dish of the night.  Let me start with the wagyu that was again cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth.  Now see the little glass on the top left part of the plate?  There is a small sprig of toasted rosemary inside, as you lift the glass the scent of the rosemary again permeates the room and flavors both the wine and the dish.  Potato- yes a little pomme frites on the side and Red and Blue? It's that little square on the top right a small square of blue cheese topped with a cabernet sauvignon gelee (the Stevens XY to be exact!)  This dish was perfect you would take a small bite of the wagyu with a chantrelle mushroom a few pomme frites, a small piece of the Red/Blue and then take a sip of wine, PERFECTION!

Course #11: Corn, Gelato, Crust, Banana, Curry paired with Stevens Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

This was a delicious and fresh way to begin the end of the evening.  A very clean tasting corn gelato with pie crust and curry butter.  I really got a lovely honey taste from the dish and the wine it was so nice and clean and light.

Course #12: Chocolate Red Wine Truffle paired with Stevens special dessert wine

Pure decadence in a small bite to end the evening with Tim Stevens giving our table a little special dessert wine.  

First let me say that my pictures do NOT do this meal justice.  One of Stone House's regular customers should be putting some pictures on the facebook page if he has not done so already, so please look at those if you get the change.  Again, I cannot express how amazed and impressed I was by everything placed in front of me on this fantastic night of eating and celebration.  I think one thing I really enjoyed was seeing the process develop this year, whether in my kitchen or from the ideas and inspiration Ryan drew on from our dinner together in Chicago and from reading about several world famous chefs.  It was so neat to see him in his interpretation and memories of those experiences.  I am so proud of him and honored to have experienced this meal!