Last weekend we went to Bellevue for a two-night stay. Since getting the hang of Priceline for great hotel prices (4* Hyatt for $90/night at the last minute), getting older and appreciating more the “Stateside getaway”, and perhaps not wanting to dash so much, and–dare I say it–wanting go somewhere else longer, I like the entire-weekend trip. There is a de-emphasis on shopping and a focus on relaxing, which might lead to a new emphasis on eating… and that’s not too bad, is it?
Bob’s Burger and Brew
We’ve seen this burger …

What a nice weekend we spent in Seattle just before Valentine’s Day! We were a small but fun group consisting of two couples and one more guy and girl. For me, some of the best parts revolved around food and drink. We stayed at the Sheraton downtown which one of our friends so kindly donated his Starwood points to lower the daily rate and we relished the opportunity to stay downtown–we didn’t even (gasp) go to the outlet mall!
Our rooms were on the 33rd floor (a Preferred Guest Level), giving …

On Saturday, we all woke up super early to meet up in southeast Vancouver to head on over to the border and onwards to Bellingham, Lynnwood, and Tulalip, in that order.
At first, the driving arrangement was for there to be a “boy car” with the three guys including NPY, and a “girl car” for the five girls. However, some concern about how a U.S. border guard will perceive three guys heading into their country in a hot little sports car induced us to change things up. Ultimately, all day long, …

Through blogs, a long time ago, I heard of this American grocery store, Trader Joe’s, and in my mind’s eye, I imagined a rustic place with a log cabin theme and glass jars of maple syrup. How wrong I was. And to think that for some reason, I never quite realize that I, too, could shop at Trader Joe’s. It’s those immigration officers at the border and at the airport who sternly ask me, “Did you bring back any food?” And I know that in order not arouse their suspicions, …

NPY surprised me arranging that we go to Seattle this weekend. It it is President’s Day on the Monday the 16th. Oh, and it’s Valentine’s Day on Saturday!
All he did was book the hotel. I’m doing the rest. =P
The following list is racing through my head like a ticker.
Red Mango. P.F. Chang’s. Cheesecake Factory. Oh gosh, will we get to dine anywhere on V-Day? University Village. Bellevue Square. Ann Taylor. Banana Republic Outlet shopping. Don’t forget your $150 GC. Don’t forget your USD cash. Don’t forget your passport. Finish Line …

after my trip to seattle in may, i blogged, “it’s good to be home” because i was tremendously relieved to be back in canada. this time, it is from pure exhaustion and overstimulation (all good) that i re-iterate, “it’s good to be home!”
in the spring, my sister and i made a straight path from pike market to the space needle, a route that took us through an edgy part of town. this time, with a guide who obviously loves and knows the city, i got to… wander …

with ample links to my photos shared on flickr (do visit them via the following multitude of links), i will tell you about my first wild weekend in a long time….
(photo to the right – of course i can stay on the ball….)
saturday — seattle
i woke up at 4. kid sister woke up at 4:30. out the door at 5 a.m. reached the border before 6 and were looking for the supposed au bon pain on 1 redmond way. (we will find one in L.A… and …