Good-bye Belltown, Hello Ravenna

I truly cannot believe Dan and I moved to Seattle two years ago.

These two years most definitely moved faster than years past.  I'm almost sure of it.

Microsoft packed up our stuff, shipped our cars and we flew the 3,000 miles to our new city.

We had no idea what to expect.  Would we like our jobs?  Would we be incredibly homesick?  Would we make any friends?  Would we kill each other living together for the first time?

I mean, moving in together, in a new city, far from home, after dating just 9 months is normal, right?

Eeeeek.

Luckily for us, these 2 years could not have been better.

Great jobs, amazing friends, a great apartment and we both figured out how to live with one another.

(Only a few hundred beers and wine bottles later)

Look, we're both still smiling!

As I pack up lots and lots and lots of boxes, I started reflecting over the two years and thinking about all the fun things I got to do and all the great things I have learned. 

taught how to make a mean risotto

the space needle

the killer

dance until 2am

late night Belltown pizza 

the Frontier room

skinny jeans

own my first cowboy-like boots

LOVE the lack of humidity

shock and awe

troll bridge

the Today show, pajamas and coffee

the neighborhood

Puget Sound sunsets

Japonessa

 live downtown, in a city, for the first time

use fresh herbs and know what to do with them

Pike Place Market

sport my Boston sports wear in every bar

Hawaii with MegO and the girls

the mountains

mornings listening to the train whistle and sailboats cruising the bay out our window

appreciate red wine

Mad Men

ugly sweater Christmas parties

the gum wall

hot tub talks with the ladies

ladies' nights

hiking

night shift and day shift rotations

the concierge

AMAZING food

happy hour

fifty shades of grey

Golden Gardens

themed parties

blogging

cooking lessons with Brittany

living like college roommates in a dorm with great friends

walks along the bay

Leavenworth

ski trips (even if it rains every time I go)

carpooling

cardiac intensive care unit

Queen Anne pool

rooftop cookouts

sampling Brittany's sweet treats

and most importantly of all

live with Dan, pick up his clothes, cook him dinner and greet him with a cocktail daily!

We're off to one of the neighborhoods, which is still full of fun bars, restaurants and parks.

And University Village which could really break the shopping bank!

Oh, Olympus apartments and Belltown, we sure will miss you.

Ravenna has a lot to live up to!

Can anybody just find me a boat?!

I moved to Seattle 2 years ago and had a few goals.

One extremely important one was to "find a friend with a boat"

because let's be serious, who doesn't love a good boat?

Especially surrounded by not only the ocean, but some lakes, too.

Clearly, I had the same goal as a 2 year old.

"I WANNA GO ON A BOAT NOW!"

I was even ready to head out in my winter hat

AND wear a life jacket.

Just to go on a boat.

I must have known at a young age where the party was at.

I think I stole some lipstick just to prove my point!

Luckily for me, through some amazing persuasion and fabulous parents, I finally got on a boat!

They even let me drive it once in a while.

Happy Summer 2012 people! 

 Let's make it one to remember.

P.S.  I am still on the hunt for friends in Seattle with a boat.  Your people call my people.

You can't win 'em all.