It’s like a heat wave, Burnin’ in my heart

We hit an all-time record for Seattle; it’s never been 103 degrees here until today.

I look like I’m wearing a white string bikini when I’m in the buff. That’ just how tan I’ve become. I’ll never see my skin this color again. However, it’s rebelling against all this sunbathing – sunblock mixed with sweat is not a good combo for healthy, glowing skin.

I usually read for hours while sunbathing – but it’s too hot to be outside of the water. So sunbathing is blown. I’m officially a prune from floating in the water all day today; it’s the only way to get relief in this heat.

My apartment is 90 degrees. It’s an oven on the fourth floor with all these windows. My kitty is so miserable. It consumes me with worry. Last night she was panting, which is a very bad, no good sign when I Google MDed her. I’ve been wrapping her in cold towels and giving her cold water baths. But I can’t leave the house without thinking about coming home to her passed out from heat exhaustion.

I want to shove Popsicles in my mouth with both fists while drinking sweet tea and ice water, and I’ve contemplated how I could twist my body into a pretzel to fit into the freezer.

Last night I went to a popular water spot in Seattle, which I’ve never seen so many people at before in my entire life. It was like a beach party – an air conditioned bar or a body of water is the only way to survive right now. Stuffy apartments and fans that circulate around hot air just don’t cut it. I slept on my couch last night to escape the staleness of my room.

It’s an interesting experience, this heat in Seattle. This past winter our city shutdown because we’re not used to the snow. Cars couldn’t go anywhere. Streets, sidewalks and hills were closed. Even the transportation system didn’t work properly and most buses routes were defunct. We all complained about the cold.

I guess we got the warmth we asked for, just the other side of the extreme spectrum. Now we’re being blasted with record-breaking heat temperatures. All fans, kiddie pools and air conditioning units are sold out everywhere. And I heard word that all hotel rooms were booked tonight too.

There’s been a lot of freezing and a lot of melting this year. Personally, I prefer the latter. But I’m still kinda thinking what the heck is happening with good old Mother Nature in our little corner of the United States this year…

Seattle & Heat Wave?! Those three words don’t generally belong in a sentence together.

Currently Feeling: A little burnt out from sunbathing. Never thought I’d say that! But my skin needs a rest.
Currently Anticipating: Getting some work done at Kristen’s house tomorrow.
Currently Wanting: An air conditioned place to take my poor baby kitty so she can get some relief!

Sometimes a girl just needs to wear a really great party dress

Friday night, I had the pleasure of finding myself on the “VIP” list of a new lounge opening in Belltown, which, for those who are Seattle outsiders, is the swanky bar scene part of Seattle. It’s the singles place to see and be seen, peruse the merchandise, hit on and perhaps take someone home. I am, of course, not single – but it’s always fun to get dressed up and go out on the town with friends and/or boyfriend in tow. Believe me you, I will never be one of the boring couples who sit at home and pick out a new vase from the new Pottery Barn catalog during Friday night…

I recently starting volunteering as the social media marketing manager for a really cool “girls only” monthly networking event in Seattle that is rapidly picking up popularity. Started by someone I’ve known through the years from blogging, I reached out when her partner moved to Africa right around the time I got laid off. I figured it could never hurt to do some pro bono work for experience and the old resume builder. I’m finding out the decision was already a savvy one – the perks for being part of the event’s team will make this worth my time alone. We receive a lot of promotional tickets and spots on guest lists to events all over the city. I was quick to take advantage of the VIP treatment at this supposedly new hot spot.

When I checked out the e-mail for the party it said, “Dress code strictly enforced. Vegas attire encouraged.” When I saw the latter part, I immediately thought of this short, flouncy hot pink dress ala Carrie Bradshaw that I bought for Vegas a year and a half ago, and haven’t worn since.

You see, this is Seattle. A place a lot like to refer to as the land of flannel shirts and Birkenstocks. While I adamantly argue against this belief (there’s a great fashion scene here and a lot of well-dressed people among the outdoorsy types), it’s still a place where you could show up in jeans in any and all places, for the most part, and fit in. I hemmed and hawed about putting on the party dress… it just seemed too over-the-top for this city.

In the end I just decided to rock it anyway cause I love it too much for it to sit another year in the back of my closet.

I confirmed my best friend, who was meeting me, was going to show up in a Vegas-style dress too. Then I went downtown to meet her. Notorious for being late, she hadn’t even left her locale yet, which was 20 minutes away, and I found myself downtown, alone, on a street corner. Oh the agony! I felt everyone’s eyes on me as they walked past in JEANS. I found a seat at the bar and proceeded to order wine to loosen up a little. I couldn’t bring these boobs out without a little wine courage!

Eventually, she showed up in something very NON-Vegas – a skirt that was short, yes, but with a sleeveless white tee. And her friend had JEANS on and a party top. (The usual approved party wear in this city). I felt so, so overdressed. And there is nothing more than this girl hates than being over- or under-dressed. Well, besides maybe finding a pube on a public toilet seat. But those two are in close hating proximity to each other.

The worse part – the “VIP” line outside the club was longer than the regular line by the time we got there, and it wasn’t moving. While others in line were in dresses that I would also deem “Vegas wear,” my partners in crime weren’t into waiting, so we left the Vegas scene for another bar in Belltown without a Vegas dress code.

Alas, here I was, out of place and overdressed at a bar I’ve been to 100 times before. I think I must have looked like I was trying really hard. Or totally out to pick someone up. Once I had a few more cocktails, I started to notice the attention I was getting… this dress is hot. And covers up all my not-so-hot curves, leaving me looking svelte with just the right amount of curve and more booby than I ever am in real life. I was kinda a false advertisement, not gonna lie. But it was great to feel sexy and feel like I could flirt with any guy in the bar! (Even if I really didn’t care to).

I danced the night away – laughing and twirling and singing. It was like Vegas all over again, except right in my own backyard. Except I realized, you don’t really need the bright lights and the airplane ride to have a crazy, over-the-top fun night that you talk about for days after.

Sometimes you just need to put on a really great party dress, and pretend you’re in Vegas.

Currently Feeling: A little relief inside an air-conditioned coffee shop. Seattle is in the middle of a heat wave! 105 tomorrow!
Currently Anticipating: Jumping in the lake and hopefully having a crab feast with a friend later tonight or tomorrow!
Currently Wanting: The new sequel to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It just came out, and I hear the book is totally fab!

HOUSEKEEPING! Oh, and Mayo

Forgive me, readers, for it’s been a week since my last confession post. This could possibly be because it’s been between 80 and 90 degrees in Seattle for weeks, and I’m working on the most epic tan. I don’t think I’ll ever see my skin this color again. I mean, if I don’t have to sit inside, in front of a computer all day, I’m not going to.

If I really had to put blame on my brief absence though, it’d be that I’m spending the majority of the time I do spend in front of a computer, trying to do actual work-related stuff such as editing my resume and working on a personal branding project. This includes coming up with a logo, style specifications, fonts, business cards and a Web site. Time consuming stuff, but just a few more tweaks and then I can hit the job ground running.

I have been wanting to ask a few housekeeping questions. Such as: are you having trouble loading my blog or leaving comments? I’ve had a few people reach out and tell me that the black background is all that shows up, so they can’t read the text. Or they can’t comment. I’ve tried to fix both, but please let me know if you continue to have technical problems – obviously I want the reading experience to be as smooth as possible. No one likes a crappy Web site.

Also, I am currently hovering somewhere around the 80 readers mark for my feed, and I want to do a giveaway at 100 readers. I like to celebrate these milestones, and well, giveaways are kinda fun no matter what. So, IF I were to host another giveaway, what would you most like to be gifted (lock your answers in below. Multiple choice is accepted):

In the meantime, I’ll eventually knock out the long list of anticipated blog posts I’ve been collecting. A few of them include getting around to discussing decorating, with pics from my bedroom, and a post about my thoughts on growing up in separate states across this very large nation of ours. I’ve also been dying to share this with you:

Only my biggest obsession since, um, I gave up my drug habit a few years ago. (I kid, I kid). But really – I can’t stop talking about this wasabi mayo from Trader Joe’s. It gives everything a kick. Recently, I’ve thrown it into deviled eggs (wasabi deviled eggs = YUM), tuna for a little spice or onto sandwiches with turkey, roast beef or ham. The stuff is freakin’ addicting. Unfortunately, it’s not that great for you, but fortunately, a little goes a long way. I highly recommend purchasing it. AND, if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s in your area, I’ll put on some black and wear a veil over my eyes to mourn your loss.

Until next time, blog lovers, cheerio!

Currently Feeling: Stoked about my progress this week, and really excited about a few jobs I’ve seen posted that I want to get in the running for!
Currently Anticipating: Barbecues galore tonight, my first Girl Power Hour meeting, catching up with an old college acquaintance tomorrow, and sunbathing with high school girl friends and my sis on Friday!
Currently Eating: A smoked turkey wrap with chilled sweet potato bisque. YUM.

Happy Birthday to The Mini!

My boyfriend has a little boy, The Mini, who turned 6 today.

I don’t blog much about The Mini, or dating a boyfriend with a child, because it’s a pretty personal decision of mine that I find more people are quick to judge than to understand. But, I guess there eventually comes a time and place for everything…

When I first met my BF, the fact he was a father definitely scared the bejesus out of me. I ignored his text messages, told him I just wanted to be friends and wrote a very embarrassing, judgmental post for all the world to read (including his mom and mother of his child) on a dating blog I wrote back then for one of Seattle’s newspapers. Oh how I wish I could take that moment back.

But, I was 25 and a super single (four years to be exact), party animal, socialite extroidonaire. My evenings were my evenings. My mornings were my mornings. I didn’t have to answer to anyone or stay in or reject invitations. Marriage and babies were even further off my mind than they are now. It wasn’t the concept of a child that scared me because I actually happen to love children (if they’re cute and well-behaved. Ha!), but it was more the concept of having a child in my life all.the.time that scared me. I didn’t want to be a mother. Or a stepmother. Or tell my parents and friends that I was dating someone with a child… the whole situation was just not appealing. Better to run quickly away, I thought.

The truth is, I was an On-Paper Snob. I wanted to rattle off all the really amazing attributes and great things of my AMAZING new boyfriend, to everyone who asked. And I didn’t want a child to be part of that list. I cared too much about what other people thought.

But my boyfriend eventually snagged me, dammit. He was cute and thoughtful with a great big heart, and there was a connection and chemistry that you just can’t ignore. I had a bit of a revolving date door over the previous four years, and hadn’t met many men who I’d had that connection with. Or many men who had pursued ME. Who thought I was the cat’s meow. It was tough to ignore… but I was still a little freaked out. I rarely spent the night at his house on the weekends when we first started dating; I did my own thing nearly every night The Mini was around. My boyfriend was always very understanding about my need for space and time – he still is – and he didn’t push anything on me.

I can’t quite put my finger on the timing, but I eventually said to myself, “Here is a man you care about, and if he has something in his life that is his EVERYTHING (aside from you), you need to get to know this Everything.”

His Everything, of course, was his Mini.

So I eventually started planning stuff for the three of us to do together… I took it day by day. I slowly let myself get to know him a little better. Eventually, I stuck around a bit more. Eventually, it felt less awkward.

And since, it’s shocking, even to me, how much my life this last year or so has been enriched by this little 5-year-old who has a little bit of a lisp and won’t eat anything but pineapple pizza, Eggo’s with butter and tortillas. Who loves pirates, sharks and cars – and Swedish fish and marshmallows. (Kid after my own heart). Who calls me “Jenna” instead of “Jeanna,” making him the only human who has ever made a mispronunciation of my name sound so damn endearing. Who asks where I am all the time, but then acts shy or standoffish sometimes when I’m around. Who likes to “Surprise!” jump on me on the couch, sometimes bruising my ribs, and sleep in his own tent when we camp. Who has eyes and eyelashes that will now and forever make all the girls, including me, swoon. Who has a little personality that grows every day – too stubborn to be talked into anything, even simple things like changing his shoes or what movie to rent, and to sweet and well-behaved to be a child of 6.

And then, there’s the whole bit about listening to your boyfriend read Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, then sing a little bedtime song. It’s pretty damn cute, not gonna lie.

Sometimes, it’s frustrating and feels like the world isn’t fair. Sometimes there’s drama about his ex, sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but for the most part… it’s good.

I’m not The Mini’s mother. And I might never be even a stepmother. But he IS part of my life, and I am part of his. And for that, right now, I feel lucky.

Currently Feeling: Uber groggy! I need to get up earlier than 10 a.m.
Currently Anticipating: Hitting the road for a weekend away with my besties from high school, their boyfriends, and mine!
Currently Loving: That I won two tickets to a wine event next weekend!

Marshmallows make me smile

It is a well known Je-fact that I am obsessed with marshmallows. I used to eat marshmallow cream out of a jar with a spoon in college (before my figure had to be watched), and I actually own a Marshmallow Fluff cookbook that a former roommate gifted me (you would not believe the recipes they come up with in the thing). My love for marshmallows has followed me around since youth. (You can read my ode to marshmallows, and my complete history with them in a post I wrote years ago).

Anywho – there is a well-known cupcake shop in Seattle that creates a S’mores cupcake. It has a graham cracker bottom, chocolate cake with graham pieces and a marshmallow merigue on top. UM, GENIUS! I’ve been dying to try it ever since the cupcake was featured on Martha Stewart last year.

I finally got my chance last night at a friend’s birthday party and caught it on flim here for you guys:

As you can see, all I’m interested in is the marshmallow topping. Screw the other stuff in a S’more! Viva la marshmallows!

Currently Feeling: Like there’s not enough time today. I need to run so many errands before rush hour hits.
Currently Anticipating: A cabin weekend with all my high school girl friends this coming weekend!
Currently Reading: The White Tiger. Well, okay, I’m not currently reading it cause I finished it yesterday, after only three days. I just wanted to tell everyone how good it was! Highly recommended.

Hotttt child in the city

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, Facebook or read my “Currently”s, you know that I went to hot yoga last night with my sister.

To say I was a bit nervous is an understatement – my anxiety toward the class continued to build as the day went on. It started with my post on Facebook about how I was nervous to go to hot yoga. From there, I received THIRTEEN comments from people, which either gave me advice on how not to pass out, or said things like, “Even sports athletes pass out!” or “Did I tell you about the time I passed out, got a concussion and had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance in the middle of class???” (True story). Gee, thanks friends.

It only escalated more when even the yoga teacher told me, “I see people swaying back and forth all the time – just lie down if you feel like you’re lightheaded. By signing these two papers, you agree to not leave the room, NO.MATTER.WHAT. Even if you think you’re going to pass out, just lie down, don’t leave the room.”

Um, yah. About that last part. Have I told you that I have minor anxiety about being sick in public and not being able to get away? If that doesn’t make sense… image why I have a fear of flying – because if I have to puke or have to go to “the bathroom” or catch the Ebola virus, I don’t want to be stuck in a place with a bunch of other people, in a situation that I can’t escape from. What can I say, I have a thing for being sick in the privacy of my own home. So let’s say I feel like I’m going to puke or pass out, I don’t want to be holed up in a room with all the other people in the yoga class.

After that little proclamation, I was ready to throw in the towel and give up completely. My heart was already palpitating a little bit. And to make matters worse, one of the most gorgeous, hot-bodied men I’ve seen in a long time was in line behind me, sans shirt, waiting to pay his price for the class I was signing up for. Scenes were flashing through my mind – I’d slump to the ground in a sweaty heap, my tongue would be lying out of my mouth, drool trailing slowly down my left cheek, the ambulance would come and they’d have to CUT OFF my yoga pants with scissors, and I’d be wearing granny work out panties. (Isn’t that why women wear cute underwear all the time – for the fear that we’ll be caught somewhere with our pants down, literally, in gross undies?!) And the hot man would be there to see the whole thing.

I sucked it up though, entered the room and set up my yoga mat. (My little sister was there to taunt me with the fact that hot yoga burns as many calories as an hour of running). I was only two minutes in, just sittin’ around and waiting for the instructor to start, and I was already thinking about how nice a hammock in a stiff breeze would feel. Or maybe dunking my head IN a pitcher of margaritas. Or taking an ice cold shower. That room is mother freakin’ HOT. I tried not to think too much about just how hot I was, cause then that good ole anxiety would start to creep up again, but if I panicked, I’d be STUCK in the room with everyone else watching me have a minor meltdown.

Anywhoo, hot yoga (or Bikram yoga, as it’s named after the founder) is a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. I didn’t know this, but it’s the same EVERY.time. In Power Yoga, or the yoga most gyms offer, it’s usually always different, ranging in different poses and sets of moves. But, the 26 poses in Bikram are exactly the same, from beginning to end, every class. The poses work in intervals, pushing yourself for one minute in a few poses, then doing them again for 30 seconds. Sort of a rise and fall – bringing your heart rate up and then letting it come back down. Wooo boy, did I appreciate that. And by “that,” I mean the slow down part. When you’re out of breath and your heart is rapidly beating, being in a 105-degree room with 40 percent humidity only compounds the agony. It’s like if you decided to run a marathon inside a sauna. So I appreciated every little rest and small sip of water I was gifted. (Cause, no lie, water sips are regulated in the class since actually having too much water can make you sick).

I totally managed to survive the class without passing out or panicking. It was a lot different than yoga classes I’ve attended in the past – a lot less relaxing, to tell you the truth. I feel like Bikram is more about pushing past a mental state of wanting to breakdown, rather than slow breathing and stretching while listening to a babbling brook. Afterward, it really is like no other feeling. Kinda like, “I can conquer the world!”

Oh, and I had NO idea that much sweat could come out of my body…

Currently Feeling: Sleepy from staying up too late to finish my resume for the career workshop I’m in today. (Good thing someone pushed me to finish by a deadline).
Currently Anticipating: Happy hour with Adam tonight.
Currenty Wishing: There was another “good” fat on this diet besides almonds, avocado and olive oil. Those three things are getting mighty boring for dressings.

Detoxish Type Thingy

Today I am starting a summer slim down detoxish type thingy. I prefer to call it a thingy instead of a diet because I’m an avid anti-crash diet type of a person. I’m abhor things like the Cabbage Soup Diet or those weird liquid diets made from lemon juice and cayenne pepper. But, I recognize the fact that I sometimes need a little jump start to again realize how great negating certain things from my daily food intake can make me feel. Like duh Je, pizza and beer make you feel sleepy, bloated and run down. Plus, I have an entire lake weekend planned in a couple weeks with all 10 of my high school girl friends who are triathaloners, marathon runners, nutritionist grad school students, skinny, size four biatches. As sad as it is to admit, at a size 8, I often feel HUGE around them. I would just like to feel proud of my curves and muscles, which means getting rid of just a little more squish. (Even though I successfully took off 10 pounds before leaving for Mexico in April by sticking to eating right and exercising via the help of SparkPeople.com).

I read about this detoxish type thingy on Pretty in the City. It’s from a nutritionist, and is focused on veggies, fruit, lean protein, healthy grains and healthy fats. I’ve been doing some version of this for at least three years now (based on the South Beach Diet, with low sugar and complex carbs), but am often falling off the wagon with a combo of my love of dinners and happy hours, and the contents in my boyfriend’s fridge. So, I’m going to try to do this for at least two weeks to kick my butt back into shape. And since weight loss is a 70 percent diet, 30 percent working out equation, I will supplement this with Jillian Michaels’ DVDs, paddle boating, bike riding, rollerblading and a jog or two if I can push through the boredom.

Yesterday I bought all the ingredients for the diet, and was able to purchase everything at Trader Joe’s, which thrilled me. I spent an hour or so, chopping everything up into freezer bags since it’s largely vegetable based and easier to just grab a handful of pre-chopped veggies to throw into a scramble or salad. It will be a lot of preparation and discipline, but I have nothing but time on my hands, so I don’t think that will be an issue for me.

I’ll keep you guys updated here, if you want to know how it goes or are interested in doing it yourself. To read the detailed plan for the detoxish type thingy, click through to the link for Pretty in the City. Wish me luck!

Currently Feeling: Super excited to head social media marketing for Girl Power Hour (a volunteer opportunity I took on as of yesterday).
Currently Anticipating: Trying out hot yoga with my sis tomorrow. (I had to cancel on her last week).
Currently Needing: To visit my friend Justin in L.A. I’m so bummed I had to cancel my Fourth of July plans there because I got laid off!

Keep Calm and Carry On

Oh online shopping, how you continue to tempt me. I was once again lured by Etsy. So far, I’ve only made three actual purchases, but they have been oh so lovely, fabulously girly finds. Yet another blogger snagged me with her mention of a cute Etsy shop that sells wall decals. I am sort of a sucker for wall decals (my last apartment had a “Live.Laugh.Love” decal that the BF gave me for Christmas). Low and behold – there was a decal of a poster I saw awhile ago on Pretty in the City, but was sold out at the time I wanted it, and then I forgot about it.

I immediately purchased a wall decal of it in hot pink, which will grace the big blank white wall in my bedroom that my bed is against. I think it’s a super fabulous phrase to start my day off with…

Currently Feeling: Like I haven’t seen my BF in forever. I’m ready for this damn bathroom remodel to be done so he can start coming over again.
Currently Anticipating: Fourth of July weekend, whoop whoop!
Currently Needing: To get this damn professional Web site up and running. So much work!

All the single ladiezzz!

You need to become my friend. This was me at dinner last night at a friend’s house:

I’m the one in the middle. Obvs. Count em. Eight single guys. EIGHT. And I’m not single. Such a wasted mingle opportunity. But a great barbecue – nothing like eight guys grilling up their manly concoctions. We had Indonesian corn on the cob, shrimp skewers marinated in a chili and lime Thai-inspired marinade, grilled pineapple, peppers and mushrooms, barbecue chicken and steak! It was the tasiest sausage fest I’d been to in a long time. (Tasty treats to eat and look at!) Every time a new boy walked in the door, I’d clap and yell, “Yay! More boys!”

Currently Feeling: The effects of those bottles of wine sitting on the table up there.
Currently Anticipating: Bricco wine bar with my sexy BF, tomorrow the International Beerfest, and tons of Fourth of July plans for the weekend!
Currently Loving: Summertime freedom. I’m having SO much fun!