Lately: Lazy Swimsuit Mind Tricks

I've been psyching myself up to buy a new swimsuit for weeks. But I can't tell if I just got too lazy to keep looking, or somehow jedi mind-tricked myself into liking something I didn't 12 hours ago.

How I felt when I tried on my existing swimsuit:

So I went shopping and found the perfect(ish) one:

And then checked the price:

So I looked for others that are less perfect but still good enough.  But that didn't turn out:

(Or, for my non-Southwest folks:

 )

So I rationalized that I would wear the perfect(ish) one all year round here and for multiple years and it's therefore worth the price: 

But they were out of stock in my size (which is a no-go...like limbo):

So I continued searching for more swimsuits but after the perfect(ish) one, they all just feel meh:

So I just try on my old one again:

Did I just do this to myself?

Whatever, I still feel like I accomplished something.

Gig Harbor House: the Whatever Stage

A few of you have asked for updates about the Gig Harbor House.  

It could be my new Zen/Sven attitude, or that all the "stuff" is pretty much over, or that my real estate agent (wisely) decided it's better to spare me all the gory details...but it's been pretty uneventful lately.

We have the seller's documents in hand, and we're just waiting for our notary appointment with the Consulate.  So at the moment, this is all we can do:

If all goes according to plan, we'll close just before heading off to Bahrain for our mini-break.

Anniversary #2

Yesterday was our second wedding anniversary.  It's crazy to think we've only been married for 2 years.  It seems like such a short time for all the love and life we've lived together.  Although to be fair, we've had the feels for 17 years.  Yep, seventeen years.

And just because I'm feeling gushy, here's a recap (of yesterday, not the last 17 years):

First, we were grown-ups and worked (he more than me):

And when he came home, Sven surprised me with these gorgeous flowers from Mamoso:

And then he looped this video and audio track that I requested on the blog the other day:



Then we went out for French food (our favorite) at St. Tropez:

Where we made googly-eyes and kept the PDA to a minimum:

Then it was back home for a movie and some snuggles with Phoebe:

How I felt every time I looked them:

Even when Sven picked Super Troopers and Scream for movie choices:

Because movie preferences aside, we're really lucky to have each other:

Me Lately

You guyyyyys, one of my favorite blogs Ponytail Journal posted this video and I can't get enough.  I find it super soothing and I think I've watched it at least 10 times today.  It's a clip from Fish Thinkers and their collaboration with the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Australia.  I only wish it was longer.  

Galapagos Whalers from Lauren Yates on Vimeo.

Now, if you really want the "Heather experience" click this song first and then stare at (and restart) the the Fish Thinkers video for the whole 7 minutes.  




Aaaaand that is exactly what it feels like to be me today.  Anyone feel like creating a 7 minute loop for me?  :)

Coffee Quest

When we lived in LA, Steven and I were exposed to excellent artisan coffee.  It became a regular occurrence (ie, we got hooked) and we learned to really cherish those little cups of happiness.  Over the last several years, we've tried to find excellent coffee everywhere we've been while also learning to make better coffee at home (I'll talk about that later).  

Here's our favorite coffee by city (mostly so I don't forget over time):

Los Angeles, CA (metro area):

• Balconi Coffee Company (Cold brew is good and the siphon coffee is delicious in addition to fascinating.)
• Coffee Commissary (Espresso, cappuccino, and cold brew are pretty decent.  If they have their biscuits with homemade jam - EAT IT.  I still have food dreams about that damn biscuit.  West Hollywood location preferred.)
• Intelligentsia Coffee (We rotated between espresso, cappuccino, dirty chai, and pour over coffee.  Ignore the overly hipster vibe and enjoy the deliciousness.  Pastries are meh.  Venice location preferred)

Las Vegas, NV:

• Sambalatte (Tip: they usually forget to dilute their cold brew so either bask in the over-caffeinated glory or add some water.) 
• Khoury's Fine Wine & Spirits (Okay, so this is beer and not coffee. We kinda got more into beer than coffee in Vegas. Partly because the beer scene in Vegas is much more interesting than the coffee, but mostly because Jeny/Kevin hung out here and we adore them.  We really came to appreciate this place and look forward to it every time we're back in Vegas.)

Reno, NV:

• Hub Coffee Roasters (We like the cappuccino and dirty chai, their cold brew is hit or miss.  We liked it better when they were just a tiny shop on Cheney street, but the coffee is still pretty good (usually).  Quality control seems to have diminished since their expansion and the consistency of their drinks is less reliable.)
• 32 Cheney Street (I have no idea what this place is called, and they don't seem to have a website. It used to be the original Hub location, but it's a different coffee company now.  But they make great espresso and cappuccino.)  

Seattle/Tacoma, WA (and surrounding areas):

• Cafe Cesura (Excellent espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, cold brew, and dirty chai.  Loved it so much we used to buy the same beans they use  - Caffe Lusso.)
• Valhalla Coffee (Cappuccino is good but they make the very best mocha I've ever had. I'm not really a mocha person, but it was so good I couldn't stop ordering it. We weren't super fond of their beans.)
• Bluebeard Coffee Roasters (We mostly ordered their cold brew and squash bread, both of which are excellent.)

Dubai, UAE: 
      
       in progress

Sven and I tried Espresso Lab a few weeks ago.  It's tucked away inside a pilates studio on a residential street and really easy to miss.  I'm so glad we circled the block twice to find it. Best cold brew I've ever had, and the staff and patrons were some of the nicest locals we've met thus far.

Metal ice balls to chill without diluting.  I really wanted to eat one.

The café Tom & Serg is so easy for us to like.  They have excellent coffee and their food reminds us of LA - heavy Asian and Hispanic influences, super yummy, very pretty, and a tad pricey. 

I love the beakers

Smoked salmon and poached egg                                    Breaky bao (that's Breakfast for all us Americans)

Booked: Bahrain

A month from now we'll be on the beach in BAHRAIN!  Or maybe in the chilled pool if the beach is a million degrees.

Yessssssssssssss

We weren't exactly planning to go to Bahrain, but on his way out the door at 5am yesterday Steven said, "I need a vacation."

You don't have to tell me twice.

Dubai Life: Non-Muslim Groceries

Several of the grocery stores in Dubai have "Non-Muslim" sections where you can buy pork products.  These sections are always completely separated from the regular store (fully contained store-within-a-store) and all your products are wrapped and priced before leaving the area.  This way, the cashier doesn't have to accidentally touch your pork.

Inside this world of pork, you can find things like trotters, sausages from around the world (mmmm chorizo), pigs ears, prosciutto, various pates, chicharrones, and lots of bacon.  But the fascinating part is how many OTHER things are also in the pork section because they contain pork by-products. 

Here are the ones that shocked me the most.  Apparently it's in the gelatin.

Did you know?  

(Please excuse the terrible photos, I was trying to be stealthy.)

Pricey little rainbow porkmallows - $9.45 per box!

The Pop Tarts website says their gelatin is beef derived.  But Dubai doesn't play that game ($4.50 per box).

Graduate to chicharrones instead ($6.21 per bag).