Category: Family

MIA, 3rd World Democracy

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We got more records than the KGB.

Apologies for being MIA the last week or so. You see…Bryan’s parents are here! Shout out to Mary and Greg! We are having an absolute blast together and I have felt like I’ve been on vacation along with them, well aside from the 8 hours of work per day :-). Dinners out, hiking, trying to spot bears (eek!), drinking wine and amazing conversation is what has kept us busy this week. So awesome ya’ll.

Oh! And last week we went camping again. I’m basically a pro now. Here are some snap shots from that epicness:

Kicking it off right

Essentials: FN Mag, Pink Cards, Citronella Candle, Bug Spray, OFF Fan, Hand Sani

By Slide Lake

M' Drink of Choice

Dinna: Grilled Cheese w/Tomato

Snagletooth

Majestic Tetons

In other news, I leave for San Francisco on Saturday!! Cue toe jumping and mini-claps. I cannot WAIT to visit the city, shop, eat cupcakes, but most of all…see my sister Megan and my mom. I miss my two best friends.

I promise to post pictures of our visit with the Nashs later, but for now, I’ll leave you with some thought-provoking visual treats.

True.

Even though I don’t condone the “B” word I agree. Go Paula.

Source

Wake Up San Francisco!

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Whatever happened to predictability?

I am Stephanie Tanner.

Megan (older sis) = DJ

Amy (younger sis) = Michelle

We seriously thought this was true in 1993.

I will soon be channeling my inner Stephanie Tanner soon because you see…

I am going to San Francisco!

I leave on August 6th with sister Megan (DJ) and my mom.

The Crew

I have a history with this city and because of this, it just happens to be my favorite place in the United States. Well, except for Washtucna, WA. Bold statement I know.

At my last job in Spokane, I was able to travel to SF about 6 or 7 times and truly cherished each visit, despite having to be in meetings during the day. Because my boss was AWESOME (still is), I was also able to shop, eat at amazing restaurants (more about that later), walk around Fisherman’s Wharf, The Ferry Building and go to  Asia SF. Google it.

First trip to SF, Alcatraz in the background

What makes SF such a special place? It’s tough to explain unless you’ve been there. To me, it’s the most interesting, cultural, exciting city I have ever been to. I love it’s size, it’s people and the fact that it’s on the water. Oh, and there’s a 4-level Forever 21.

Not that we’ll only shop here! We also plan on thrifting and trying to find some funky, unique shops as well.  That doesn’t mean we won’t hit up the staples, like H&M, Zara and of course Anthropologie. We’re not stupid.

The restaurant choosing will also be quite difficult as I have eaten at some amazing places in SF, including Chez Panise, Asia de Cuba, A16, Foreign Cinema and the most exciting, Teatro ZinZanni (an amazing dinner show).

And of course, candy and cupcake shop scouting will be a must. Maybe we’ll even drive up to Napa and eat at Bottega and Michael Chiarello and I will be like old chums by the end of the meal! And also Hubert Keller will be there AND Alice Waters. They’ll invite me to their vacation homes where we will cook delicious food and I’ll drink gimlets. They’ll call me The Girl Who is Friends with Celebrity Chefs.

Can you tell I’ve just finished the newest Sophie Kinsella book, “Mini Shopaholic”? It was fab.

Anyway, I promise to document this trip thoroughly and report back with gumption. Watch out SF, the Danielsons are a’comin!

And if anyone doesn’t like it, I’ll simply say “How rude!”.

Good Times Had by All

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What a week!

There is just SO much that I could tell you. Unfortunately, only about 10% of it might be of interest. The rest would leave you scared, annoyed and maybe a little bit hostile.

Cutting to the chase:

1.) Bryan’s brother Corbin arrived Monday morning!

Bryan and Corbin in Hawaii

Since it was the 4th of July, naturally we had made some plans including raftin and q-in. I had procured three spots for us on Matt’s boat and it was a BLAST. Our group included 5 boats, at least 2 cases of brews, tons of food, a platypus full a wine (pictured below) and of course, Holly brought her flask. I knew I was friends with her for a reason!

We Call it "The Platty"

After a thrilling day on the Hoback River, we came home and fired up the Q.

Bryan also prepared his delicious guacamole.

The candy dishes  and glow sticks were courtesy of yours truly :-).

We grilled kabobs and hamburgers, had plenty of chips and dip, drank beers and OF COURSE ended the night with s’mores.

P.S Glow sticks from the Dollar Store suck.

Other haps of the week (unpictured unfortunately) were:

  •  Floating Flat Creek with Bryan and Corbin intertube-style, mine popping on a rusty nail and being dragged downstream until I realized that I could stand up. #blondemoment.
  • Dinner at Trio. I had:
  • Enjoying Bryan’s delicious homemade pizza while watching “Due Date”. BTW, Robert Downey Jr.  is getting cuter and cuter with age.
  • Drinks + Dinner at the Caddy and Nikai. So. Effing. Good.
  • Making this awesome girl’s Cake Batter Pizzert. Vegan, using spelt flour. How granola-ey of me huh?

Today is my day off! So I celebrated by making this for breakfast:

Bluebs, Organic Cinnamon Toast Cruch, Puffed Wheat and Almond Milk

Then I went up Snow King!

For all you who don’t live in Jackson Hole (most of you), Snow King is a ski resort but also the name of the mountain it sits on. It is located about 1 mile from town and makes for an excellent workout in the summer. The mountain starts at 6,237 feet and the summit is at 7,808. This means that hikers gain 1,571 feet of elevation in anywhere from 25-75 minutes. it takes me about 38-45 minutes to hike up (longer if I forget my ipod).

Today was so beautiful outside that I smartly remembered to grab my camera to show y’all what it looks like out there.

View from the bottom

Harses, harses, harses, harses…Anyone?

Heading Up

Wildflowers, 1/3 of the way up

Breaking a Sweat

Awesome Wyoming Fanny Pack

Taking the chair lift down

Purty

Wind on My Face

This hike always rocks my world a little bit. It’s short, but intense on the stems. To power through, I listened to hits from Glee and Mamma Mia! On the way down, I slowed things down a bit with Phoebe Snow (look her up) and also this song.

I’m such a Ringie.

Now, I am relaxing with a delicious Life Water, graham crackers and an Amanda Bynes movie (obv), while I mentally prepare for our kickball game at 6:30. Perhaps I shall bring along the camera tonight and capture the Kicking Mules (our team name) striving for victory? I vote yes.

I Like Country Music

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I’m finally coming out.

I kid, I kid. (this is actually just me and my sister from another mister, RJ).

After years and years of denying myself this all ‘mericn born, mindlessly catchy, sappy lyric laden tunage, I am giving in. I surrender myself to the stereotypical poofy-haired, southern twangy artists rants about “pickup trucks”, “baby girls” and being “corn fed”.

I find myself cravin me some C-Woods (Carrie Underwood), Tay-Tay, Jane-Dear Girls and yes – even Kelly Pickler. Her and those GD red high heels. Gets me err-time.

How did this happen to me?

A little background – I come from a very musically talented family. I took 5 years of piano (not meaning I play piano, but can read music), was 1st chair clarinet in High School, sang in multiple choirs and best of all…have been in musicals! Besides re-runs of Full House,  Musical theater is probably my biggest passion.

Don't Ask

I was raised on the Sound of Music, George Gershwin, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Benny Goodman and of course, The Beatles. Ok, yes – also Raffi. You know you like “Baby Beluga”, admit it. I have read The Musical Ascent of Herman Being for heaven sakes! I know the value of classical music and what it does for the dome-piece.

Additionally, my Father AND Grandfather are maja jazz cats. Pops is a dynamite woodwind (for all you non-band nerds, this means he can play any instrument that has a reed) but also plays the flute. Yes, the jazz flute. Ron Burgundy style.

Crushin the Jazz Flute

Whalin on the Tenor Sax

Not only is my Dad the best saxophone, flute and clarinet player I have ever heard, but he also composes! I know what you’re thinking. You think I’m biased because I just happen to be his daughter? Well, you’d be wrong! Listen for yourself here.

Vienna Nocturne by Gary Danielson

Vienna Nocturne - Gary Danielson

TOLD YOU!

Gramps is a brass (trumpet, mostly) but is also able to slap the banjo as well. They were both in a pretty famous jazz group called “The Many Sounds of Nine”.

The Many Sounds of Nine, on the Road

Great Uncle Herm - Trombone

My Grandpa Luke - Trumpet

Both of my aunts are dynamite piano players and singers and many of my cousins are crazy talented as well.

Cousin Dan Tickling the Ivories

Now that you understand my extensive musical background, I can only wonder – where did I acquire this recent affinity for country music? Let’s examine the evidence, shall we?

  • I live in Wyoming.
  • I now drink whiskey.
  • I have been to a demolition derby.
  • I own a pair of dirty, white, Old Navy flip-flops.

Case closed.

Washington Extravaganza 2011

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J.D Working the Mushroom Cut

 

“All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go…I’m standin’ here outside your door…I hate to wake you up to say goodbye…”
 That John Denver was full of sh*t (cuz cursin aint lady-like on a blog ok?).
 

It’s true, B and I are headed west to Washington state in exactly 1 week. Where the evergreens are a plenty and the wine flows like the Columbia River. Since Bryan hails from Kirkland and yours truly from Kennewick, it only made sense that we make the pilgramage. Here is the 4-1-1 on our trip in the form of an itinerary.

9:00 am Wake up. Prolly lookin like this:

Fresh as a Daisy

9:15 am Pick up coffee.

Bossy

 11:00 am Stop in Utah and say what up to my peeps.

I've got my polyester brown frock giiirls!

1:30 pm Make a pit stop for sustenance.

Yep.

8:00 pm Arrive in the ‘Kane and get all cray-cray at Dempsey’s.

My Drag Name - Summer Clearance

12:00 am Chug a fifth of SoCo, sneak into a frat party…polish off a few people’s empties, some brewskies, some Jell-O shots, do some body shots off myself…pass out, wake up the next morning, boot, rally, more SoCo, head to the race.

Don’t be jealous.

But seriously folks, here are Bryan and Natalie’s Top 10 Reasons to go to Washington State:

  1. Run/Walk Bloomsday Race (7.5 miles)
  2. Party in Spokane with Amy like a G6
  3. Pay a visit to the Alma Mater, Whitworth U
  4. Wine Tasting in the “town so nice they name it twice” (Walla Walla for anyone who isn’t Gary Danielson)
  5. Tour of Kennewick to include: taco trucks, the nation’s top-grossing 7-11, Griggs, Zips by the Cable Bridge and of COURSE Desserts by Kelly (which also coincidentally, doubles as a baseball card shop)
  6. Visit B’s Crib
  7. Make delicious ‘za with Bry-Bry’s broseph, Corbin
  8. PARTY BUS! I am 100% serious. Cue black lights and disco balls.
  9. Stroll around the Emerald City – Pike Place, Delancey’s, etc. B will probably try to climb the space needle.
  10. Be with amazing friends, family and people who we don’t really like but will pretend to their faces.

Just because.

Sister Megan’s Visit

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  Over the past week, B and I had my ultra-fab sister Megan as our ultra-fab house guest. Enter Megan :

Megan and Chloe Joey

Isn’t Megan beautiful? Duh, she’s my sister.

Since her visit fell at the beginning of April, we encountered many obstacles that could have hindered our potential fun-levels:

  • poopy weather
  • ski season = over
  • stores close
  • locals say bye-bye

However, Megan and I are not your average gals. We hail from the Tri, where pickins are slim and one must get creative when it comes to funs being had. Among the normal human activites such as dining out and hangin with friends, we also partook in the following:

  • consumed copious amounts of sugar in the form of delcious Maverick fro-yo and pounds of candy from Yipee-I-O Candy Shop.
  • watched Sex and the City 2 AND Easy A. We know how to ‘tain ahselves.
  • performed a grillion impressions of the late Edith Beale, star of the 1975 documentary “Gray Gardens”.
  • went on a “hike” that lasted us approximately 30 seconds before we were sinking into thick, muddy goo. It was versus the mud. Mud = winna.
  • Consumed delicious meals at The Merry Piglets, Nikai and Teton Steakhouse.

Inflatable Costumes - Always a Good Idea

Here is a video of our new favorite human being of all time, explaining her outfit to the documentary film crew and why it is “the best thing to wear for the day, you understand”.

I miss you already sister darling…