Hey, happy Monday everyone. I hope you're taking a coffee break at work with your feet up at your desk and you plan to read this blog top to bottom. Today's post is going to be short and sweet- I'm writing a fun piece right now that I'm excited to debut on The Wilder Coast...when it's ready. For now, enjoy this little guy and check out the sweet Patagonia giveaway at the end.
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Last year around this time I was sitting over at Top Pot donuts in Wedgewood filling out applications for exciting jobs that didn't exist. (Thanks for nothing, Craigslist.) I looked out the window and there was Colleen, this girl I grew up with in Vermont, just standing there outside the donut shop in this small neighborhood in North Seattle.
Colleen has been a good friend since middle school, when we affectionately called her The Muffin because of her adorable hair cut. To be fair, I wore stirruped stretch pants back then. Things have changed though, Colleen doesn't resemble a muffin anymore and my stretch pants don't have stirrups. (My skinny jeans do though!)
I was surprised to see her because she lives in Portland Maine, I had no idea she was visiting, and Wedgewood is most definitely not a destination neighborhood. Nobody says, "Seattle? You've just GOT to visit Wedgewood above 75th, they've got everything up there. " Colleen was equally surprised when I suddenly appeared outside the donut place, hobbling towards her in the parking lot in these ridiculous high healed boots my mom made me buy that I've never worn since. Colleen thought I still lived in Chile.
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| I had my camera with me that day. |
It's pretty great to have a visitor. She's thinking very seriously about moving here, so I'm taking her around and showing her all the best parts. It's like those first few weeks of dating when you can tell all your good stories for the first time, and wear all your cute outfits for the first time, and he doesn't have to find out right away that you can't sleep without your dog and a fun Friday night means reading alone in the bath. Colleen will find out about the dreary weather and the passive aggression soon enough, but right now, we're in the honeymoon phase. Seattle is all public markets, alternative book stores, huge parks, bungalows and trees.
Here are Colleen's super hip hipstamatic shots from her phone. Does it bug me that people can take cooler photos on their phone than I can with my expensive camera and photo editing software? Shit yeah it does. But here they are anyway. As you can see, my city knows how to deliver.
Here are Colleen's photos with a few of Lisa's in there as well:
The truth is, even nine years into this relationship (with a two year trial separation), I'm still in love with this place.
Speaking of being in love, Colleen joined the club. She got the state outline of Vermont tattooed on her foot while I waited in the front of the tattoo place and took hipstamatic shots of my painted fingernails. She added Shasta daisies, her favorite flower, as a personal touch. Our friend So has the VT state as well, with a giant cheese knife across it.
With that said, here's the giveaway. And if you just scrolled down and jumped right to this part, you'll never win because there are secrets sprinkled into the story above.
Here it is: I want to know where you live, and what you love about it right now. It's fall, my favorite season, and if my weird, rainy town is delivering I bet yours is too. A randomly selected commenter will get a brand new Patagonia Lined Beanie, worth 35$. I love Patagonia, it's a great and ethical company and their clothes last forever. I thought this hat was seasonally appropriate, with a cute design you could wear with a fitted coat (lady) or a burly fleece vest (man of my dreams.) It's lined so it will keep you really warm.
You readers have been incredibly supportive lately, so thank you. Thanks for all the comments, all the link sharing, and all the cheering at the Film Festival. I've got a line up of cool things to give away in the next few weeks.
