Holiday Date

Christmas is the perfect time to snuggle, sip hot chocolate and hold mittened hands. Gilman's Village is an adorable specialty mall in Issaquah (35 minutes from Seattle) with about 40 unique boutiques that are fun to poke around in. Including a toy shop from other countries, art galleries of local artists and a yummy YUMMY bakery!! During Christmas time they decorate with lights and have carolers (see Schedule). Click here for directions.

The Doghouse

Anyone who has a husband that will be buying them a gift...ever...needs to watch this video. It will have you laughing SO hard...and make you appreciate your husband...hopefully!

The Doghouse

;)

Burn the Floor

This is a blatant and unapologetic plea to my husband:

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! This is possibly the best show in the entire world!!! (in my opinion, obviously)

Burn The Floor

Jan 24, 2009 (Sat)

Tacoma Dome Arena

A sexy sophisticated dance extravaganza combining the sensual and physical chemistry of Ballroom and Latin dancing with a 21st Century edge that has international critics and audiences swooning!

Tickets

Buy Tickets

Tickets on sale now!

$64.50 - $29.50

Groups 12+ call (253) 593-7617

More info website

Burn The Floor Website

Also is playing in San Francisco & Vancouver, Cananda . . . Oh and Germany.

Date-a-rama!

I taught a workshop last night to the older youth about the importance of group dates. While we don't have to group date anymore (unless we want to) I did some research and Shauna helped me come up with a pretty snazzy list. I think you all should pick some of these dates to do!

The best dates are planned yet casual, inexpensive yet fun. Be creative!

Artsy Dates

- First Thursday Free Museums (Seattle Art Museum, EMP, Science Fiction Museum, The Burke Museum, Museum of History and Industry, Museum of Flight and Seattle Asian Art Museum) - First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square (Similar gallery walks happen in Kirkland, Ballard, Fremont and Capitol Hill) – Frye Art Museum (always free) - Free Shakespeare, concerts & movies at Seattle Parks (summer) - Seattle Sculpture Park - Hear the Compline Choir perform every Sunday at 9:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E

Seattleite Dates

- Pike's Place Market (goes well with a picture treasure hunt) - Mix-it-up Ice cream on the Ave - Take a tour of Theo Chocolate factory - Folklife Festival, Bite of Seattle, SeaFair - Laser show at the Seattle Science Center - Ferry ride to Bremerton or Bainbridge - Woodland Park Zoo, Aquarium, Pacific Science Center - $5 to go up the Columbia Tower Observation Deck - Feed the Ducks or ride bikes at Greenlake - Watch ships pass through the canal and salmon swim through the "fish ladder" at the Chittenden Locks - Fremont Troll (N 36th St, Seattle, WA)

Sporty Dates

- Cross-country skiing or tubing - River rafting on the Skagit - Miniature golf at Interbay - Canoeing at the UW Arboretum - Driving range at UW - Rollerskating/Iceskating at Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline - Ice Skating at the Seattle Center (winter) - Cheap bowling/pool/DDR at the UW Hub even for non-UW students - Go for a swim at Matthews Beach, Madison Park & Madrona Beach - Kickball, capture the flag or fly kites at any Seattle Park - Hike at Snoqualmie Falls - Batting cages - Rollerblading/biking/or fire pit at Alki Beach -

Just for Fun Dates

- $5 swing or salsa dancing with free lesson ($7 on weekends) at Century Ballroom - Board game, puzzle challenge or charades night - Organize a potluck dinner, and assign people to bring certain dishes or ingredients – Surprise sidewalk chalk someone's driveway (nice things only!) - Wii, DDR, Rock Band or Guitar Hero night at someone's house - Cheap Eats: Dicks & Ivars – $3 movies at Crest Theatre in Shoreline - The Fair (get tickets from school) - A service date (rake a neighbor's leaves, wash windows etc) - Have a contest to find the best/funniest book at a used book store (Twice Sold Tales 905 E John St usually has a $1 rack in front) - Creative Story (write/say one or two lines of a story, the next person continues with another line or two) - St a dollar limit and go to a thrift shop. Then go somewhere wearing the outfits you bought. - Dessert contest (making or eating) - Homemade pizza party - Progressive Dinner - Go berry picking -

Holiday Dates

- Gilman's Village in Issaquah - Snoqualmie Santa Train - Visit a pumpkin patch or corn maze - Christmas lights and hot cocoa - Candycane lane in Ravenna – Bellevue Square's Snowflake Lane

For more ideas, check the newspaperor Internet for free or discounted tickets. Or check out some Seattle events websites for current activities, concerts, festivals and holiday activities!

Keeping the honeymoon alive

i originally posted this on my blog and shauna asked me to post it here as well:

we have several old men couriers who come by work once a week or so from the hospital. they are always cheery with a twinkle in their eye and they have grandpa-y type things to say like, "show me that smile!"

today the courier handed me the envelope and i told him to stay dry... expecting him to quickly be on his way. but he was still standing there.

how long have you been married? he asked.

two years next month, i said.

we're going on 54, he said. may i give you a bit of advice? make sure you do the little things that make him know you still love him. he told me about how he serves his wife by feeding her latte habit. on the days he is a courier he calls her from his last stop and asks her if she'd like a latte. her response, "i've been waiting for you to call all day!" he said he cleans up and does chores for her. when i asked how she shows love to him he said by forgiving him when he forgets birthdays. she also knocks him on the nose to demand smooches.

it was a brief conversation. it lasted but a few minutes and for whatever reason he shared part of himself with me. it does come back to the little things - like surprise chapsticks because i seem to lose mine. critters in the mail. a weekend getaway to a town posing as bavaria. making me fantastic naked pasta when i don't want to think about cooking.

i should probably start smacking him on the nose to redeem my smooches!

Quick & Easy Romance

I was recently blessed with an adorable baby boy. Needless to say, diaper changing and sore nipples have taken precedence to thoughts of romance, let alone going on a date. My darling husband bless his heart (I think desperate for some one on one time) surprised me with a sweet and simple gesture. He picked up some scrumptious chocolate hazelnut gelato, lit some candles and we enjoyed a solid uninterrupted 5 minutes reconnecting over the kitchen table. . . . perfection!

Portland Gems

If you have ever plan to Seattle's little sister Portland here is what you need to know.
Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe has delectable truffles and sweets shaped like animals, Ice cream cones, baskets, etc.
AND
Papa Haydn is the place for the BEST dessert! Some of the desserts we have had were titled White Chocolate Mousse Charlotte and Passion. Their shortbread cookies dipped in dark chocolate are wonderful. Please do not miss out next time you are in Portland make this your date!

Surprise Clean Sweep

Organize his closet, put his shirts together, his pants, his ties, his shoes. Buy matching hangers or storage. This is an easy way to put a smile on his face and doesn't take that much time to prepare!

Special Date

For a very special date, return to the place where it all began. Where ever you sealed the deal (marriage or proposal) , at a church, temple, garden or a beach, take a picnic or flowers and dessert and sit where you can see it. It doesn't have to be the exact location especially if you've moved since then but someplace that is similar. Then eat your lovely meal and reminisce about that day and every year since you've been married. If you really want to get into it, write some vows or a poem or just let them know how special they are to you.

Don't Change

Some of you may have heard "Don't Change" by Musiq Soulchild on this site's playlist. The first time I heard it was with the music video and I cried myself silly (no, I wasn't pregnant at the time). So if you feel like getting sappy and lovey watch this and make sure you watch it til the end.

#304 "Walk a mile in his shoes"

Rethink your romantic gestures:

* After an especially tough week, he'd probably prefer a massage to going out dancing.
* Don't bring her flowers when what she really needs is two hours of peace and quiet.
* Does she need a quiet respite- or an exciting change of pace?

Plan accordingly.

-Gregory Godek (1001 ways to be Romantic)
Click here for foot massage tutorial.

Bring Sexy Back

Frederick's of Hollywood is a great place for some sexy new lingerie w/out feeling like you're breaking the bank for something you're only going to wear for a few minutes. They also carry plus sizes. This store always has AMAZING SALES!

Click here for online store. Have fun! ;)

Installing a husband

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slowdown in overall system performance -- particularly in the flower and jewelery applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as AFL 5.0, The Ashes 3.0, and Golf Clubs 4.1.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. I've tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.

What can I do?

Signed, Desperate

............ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ....

Dear Desperate:

First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an Operating System.

Please enter the command: 'http: I Thought You Loved Me.html' and try to download Tears 6.2 and don't forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewellery 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

But remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, or Video game Hour 7.0 .

Whatever you do, DO NOT install Mother-in-law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources).

Also, do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance.

We recommend Food 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Unleashing your inner temptress

Ever want to unleash your inner temptress? Urban Striptease Aerobics takes some of the basic moves of a striptease and combines them with aerobic elements to create a fun, energizing and sexy workout. The classes are women only and nobody takes off their clothes. ;) It's just a fun way to get some exercise and who knows? It could even spice up your love life. Needless to say, I don't think your husband will complain.

Several gyms offer these classes in the Seattle area as well as Federal Way, Kirkland, and Edmonds (check into paying for individual classes instead of buying a membership). And if you are out of state- TX, NM, MA, IL, NC, VA, OH, FL, ID, and Vancouver, BC also have classes. Click on this site for more info and specific locations. I took one of these classes near the college I attended and LOVED it!!

If taking a class is COMPLETELY out of your comfort zone, consider buying a DVD you can get a sexy workout in your own living room. Pretty sure you can find DVDs on amazon or ebay. I hear Carmen Electra also has a striptease workout DVD.

Might have a hard time ending this date . . .

Theo Chocolate, The Factory is an organic chocolate factory in Fremont. I haven't been yet but it sounds pretty interesting and very yummy, lots of taste testing. Thanks to Keri (& Zoram) for the great date idea, hope you guys get to go soon.

Retail store is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm. Public tours are available 7 days a week at 10 am, 12 pm, 2pm and 4pm. The tour is $5 per person ages 1 and older.

**PLEASE CALL (206)632-5100 TO MAKE A RESERVATION and for information on extended tour schedule during the holidays.

Click here for link to site.

Sandy beach getaway

Sometimes don't your toes just crave the sand? Jetty Island in Everett is just the perfect fix! It's a 2 mile long man-made sandy island with a 3 minute ferry ride . . . for FREE! Lay out your beach towels and soak up the sun with a romantic little picnic and make sure you bring a swimsuit and a kite! Last time we brought card games and water guns. Here's a link to their brochure w/ directions and calender.

The Relationship Report Card- a practical tool for change and improvement.

Does your relationship need some reflection and re-evaluation? Try this exercise:

INSTRUCTIONS-
* You grade yourself and your partner.
* Get your partner to grade him or herself and you.
* Compare and discuss your grades; you'll gain great insight into your relationship.
* Celebrate everything from a B- to an A+.
* Work to improve your Cs and Ds and Fs.



Grade Yourself Grade Partner
Affection
Arguing Skills
Attitude
Commitment
Communication
Considerate
Couple Thinking
Creativity
Empathy
Flexibility
Friendship
Generosity
Gift-giving Skills
Honesty
Household Mgmt.
Listening Skills
Lovemaking
Patience
Playfulness
Romance
Self-Awareness
Self-Esteem
Sense of Humor
Sensitivity
Spontaneity
Tolerance

How would you grade your relationship?

A = Passionate, exciting, loving, fulfilling; not perfect- but clearly excellent.
B = Very good, solid, better- than-most, consistent, improving.
C = Average, acceptable, status quo, okay- but static, ho-hum, sometimes boring.
D = Below average, unhappy, dismal; bad- but not hopeless.
F = Hopeless, depressing, dangerous; tried everything, it didn't work.

Taken from 1001 ways to be Romantic- Gregory Godek

#137 of 1001 Ways to be Romantic by Gregory Godek

"Breakfast in bed is 'nice' -but rather common, don't you think?" said one couple in (my) romance class. "We think the class would be interested in one of our favorite pastimes: Dinner in bed!"

New Secret Hole in the Wall

Bizarro Italian Cafe

(206) 632-7277

1307 N 46th St
Seattle, WA 98103

Located in Wallingford, off Stoneway and 46th, I'm finding hard to find words to describe how fabulous I think this restaurant is. The decor is very appropriately bizarre, every time I go, I find a million new things on the ceiling or tucked away in a corner. The atmosphere is romantic and it feels like you've stumbled on a secret treasure. All of their ingredients are bought within 300 miles. The dishes that I've tried have been wonderful. The menu is a little pricey, $14-$22 but for a special occasion- WORTH IT!!! I've also read some poor reviews regarding staff but I'm happy to say that every waiter we've had has been delightful. Also, for dessert, Gelati is a MUST - I love chocolate hazelnut. I can't wait to go back!

oh canada!

dear ladies,

yes this week is the 4th of july, also known as independence day, but we decided we'd sneak away to victoria. (go figure we'd celebrate the 4th in a foreign country but it's not my first time! in 2006 i celebrated peruvian style).

anyways... we are thinking of doing the victoria clipper and going to the gardens etc. we aren't planning on having a car there... has anyone been? or does anyone have any pointers, suggestions, etc?

thank you,

seeking to celebrate the 4th in the north

Take it to the bank!

This week my husband received some love advise from a very wise doctor. This is not a direct quote:

Marriage is a bank. Sometimes we forget and only focus on making withdrawals. But in order to make withdrawals we need to remember to DEPOSIT, DEPOSIT, DEPOSIT!

Thanks Dr. Tinney, will you be my love guru?

Krua: Thai Family Kitchen

Don't be turned off by the awful mustard yellow sign...we found our fabulous take-out restaurant!! Krua Thai Family Kitchen delivers some of the most delicious Thai food I have ever eaten. They are located right by Kidd Valley on 25th. They offer free delivery within the U-District on orders over $15. The service was awesome - they were really friendly and we had our food delivered to our door within 30 minutes. I highly recommend the yellow curry fried rice and the "cashew delight." I've been craving the fried rice ever since...and no, I'm not pregnant.

I have never stepped foot inside the restaurant and judging from the outside, I wouldn't have expected it to be this cute. Rob and I wondered if these pictures are for real. :) So let me know if you've been there!



So put the kids to bed early and enjoy a fabulous, inexpensive ($7-11/dish) dinner delivered to your door!

Hours:
Monday - Thursday 11:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 11:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 9:00pm

Lunch is served daily until 3:00pm. Dinner Menu is available all day.

Greek for the whole family

So this is my first Married and Still Dating posting which I know is long over-due but I do have a good recommendation. Scott and I try and go out every week but for several reasons we always have Eve with us. Therefore our criteria of a good place to eat is a little different. Good food is an obvious. I'm a vegetarian so that limits our choices even more. We tend to like privately owned places where the ambiance is unique and the help is nice and child-friendly. And if it's relatively close by that's a definite plus as well.

We've found several places that we like but one of our favorites is a Greek cafe (Montlake area) called Vios. Mediterranean food is my absolute favorite so I'm partial from the get-go. I would definitely recommend Vios for diner rather than lunch as the dinner menu is more varied. It is a little pricey for the amount of food that you get so don't go there if you're ravenous. But the quality of the food and especially of the experience is wonderful. Much better than the more popular Greek restaurant Costas Opa in Ballard. The best dinner (family-style) we've had there was:

Trio Sampler w/pita (hummus, babaganoush and tzatziki) - $10.25
Roasted Eggplant Salad - $9.00
and the Cheese Plate - $9.25

But the best thing about Vios isn't the food, the ambiance (old wood tables and Greek flags) or the waitress that looks and acts like the aunt on My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It's the play area. One corner of the restaurant is walled off and is filled with toys and books. There is even a bar along the wall so you can eat while you watch your kids play. It is so nice, especially compared to our usual restaurant circus, I mean experience.

Play Area/Parent's Salvation

Greek Orthodox Church right by Vios;
a nice authentic touch

Take-Out, Anyone?

Today is our anniversary and we thought it would be fun to order take-out and watch a movie after the kids are in bed. However, when I started brainstorming restaurants, I realized that I don't know of that many! Do you have any recommendations for fabulous take-out? Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, or anything other cuisine? Do they deliver? This is making me hungry!!!

Olympic Peninsula

Okay, so this is more of a plea for help then a date suggestion. We are going to the Olympic Peninsula with my parents at the end of May. However, I have never been and I don't know where to stay. (We will be there for two nights.) Does anyone have any suggestions on good places to stay and/or must sees while we are over there?

Thanks!

A Romantic boat ride

A picnic lunch and pair of sunglasses are all you need for this active and romantic date. Rent a canoe or rowboat at the University of Washington Water Activities Center and row around Washington Park to little islands with trails and perfect picnic/makeout spots. Also, bring a camera for the beautiful wildlife and cute pictures for blogging!

UW Students	$4.00/hour
UW Faculty/Staff	$5.50/hour
UW Alumni	$7.00/hour
General Public	$7.50/hour

They only accept check or cash.

Is your lady a chocolate lover?

I have always been disgusted with men who think that a box of chocolates and a little stuffed animal is a permissible gesture of love. To me it screams- "I put off something I've known has been coming for months and so fortunately the drugstore opened in time this morning for you to think I put a lot of thought into my gift." We, women are not deceived! Has anyone had those chocolates before? The assorted ones in the yellow or red box with a rose imprinted on the front- that taste so waxy that for all you know they could have been sitting on the shelf since Valentine's day 1983.

Well, yesterday while I was window shopping at U-Village (the only thing I can afford to do there) and happened to wonder into Fran's Chocolates. The chocolate aroma overwhelmed my senses and I entered a highly euphoric wonderland! I ordered the dark hot cocoa (the best I've EVER had) and the hazelnut crunch chocolate truffle plus they threw in a complementary bittersweet truffle with a flick of gold paint the top. I now understand why chocolate considered an aphrodisiac, and I happy to say that if my husband ever got me Fran's chocolates for Valentine's, Anniversary or Mother's day it would exceed all of my expectations!!! or even if he just got me one for the heck of it, he would be well rewarded. :) So find a specialty Chocolate store near you.

Love notes

Need another creative idea for leaving a love note for your honey? Write it on the sidewalk. If my kids can do it for my husband, why can't I? Just don't get too mushy, or you may make your honey AND your neighbors blush!

Qazis Indian Curry House

Well it isn't Cedars (we haven't been there yet) but we did find this cute little spot in Fremont. The food was great!

473 N 36th St
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 632-3575

Price: $

Cross Street:Dayton Avenue

Hours: Daily 11am-10pm

The best of India in Seattle

I dare you to find a better Indian restaurant than Cedars Restaurant on Brooklyn in the U-district (seriously, let me know). I grew up with good old fashioned mormon casseroles and butter and salt added to each item on the menu. My Dad tried his best to get us kids to branch out and try things like Tom-kah (sp?) soup and curry but we shot him down every time, too scared to try something "spicey." These days, I'm trying to do my Dad proud, after all his efforts and I now try new food and mostly I like it, but I especially LOVE Indian food. Nothing better than warm naan and Chicken Tikka Masala. Pretty sure this place has won awards but if not, I give them my own, Shauna LOVES you Award. Check out their menu here.

Chile Pepper

In my time in Seattle, I have not been very impressed with the Mexican restaurants in Seattle..... until now. Chile Pepper is located on 45th just before Stone (in Wallingford). You can't miss it, just look for the bright orange house as seen in the picture. I loved their food. I had the tostadas and they were delicious. We took our whole family and our girls loved it also. (Caitlin raved about the delicious food all evening.) There was probably about a dozen tables in the whole restaurant and we were served by what appeared to be the owner and his wife. For any Mexican food lovers, this is a must try restaurant. Oh, I can't forget, the prices were also very reasonable. Most dishes were under $10.

Monorail oh monorail!

For some reason the monorail is fascinating to me. The monorail leaves every 10 minutes for a few dollars from the Seattle Center (attached to the Center House) and goes to West lake center. Have dinner at P.F. Chang's (located in the shopping center) for the delectable Chicken Lettuce wraps ( Quickly cooked spiced chicken served with cool lettuce cups) and Fried Banana spring rolls (Six warm, crispy bites with coconut pineapple ice cream and drizzled with caramel and vanilla sauces. Delicious!). Then ride the elevator up to the Sweet Factory to get some refreshment for the monorail returning you to the Seattle Center house (which has Salt Water Taffy and frozen bananas dipped in chocolate)

Is there a Tiger living in your house?

If your husband loves to spend hours at the local range but its just not your thing may I suggest a compromise that also counts as a date?
The University of Washington has a driving range thats open to the public. And its cheap! Plus if you've never golfed before he can unleash his tiger skills and teach you a few things. (as long as this sort of thing doesn't usually lead to an argument). :)

Click here for details!

Arts discounts

Are you a student or under 25? Click here for great deals in the art community (ex: Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Repertory Theatre)


Click here for discounts to the 5th Avenue Theatre.

Newly discovered cupcake deliciousness!

Go out for dessert only . . . . anywhere!!!! For me, cupcakes is a must! Here's one of my new finds:

Sugar Rush Baking Company

• • • About Us • • •

Located in
Coffee to a Tea
in the West Seattle Junction
4541 California Ave SW
206 937-1495

Monday-Saturday 8a-10p, Sunday 8a-6p

This place has amazing cakes, pies AAAAAAAND cupcakes!!! Better than cupcake royale, they taste homemade. The cafe has more seating than most cafes and on some nights they have a local singer. Plus they are open til 10:00 so this makes for a good late night date after the kids are in bed (granted you have a babysitter, otherwise its illegal apparently :)

Floating Around Seattle

Can't afford that cruise to Alaska just yet, or don't have the time? Are the Argosy Cruises a little too expensive also (though if you have the money, this is another great date idea I'll talk about another time)? I have the perfect solution! Try a ride on a Washington State Ferry. I have been riding the ferries since I was little when my dad lived on Whidbey Island, to now, when I go just for the fun of it. I have always looked forward to the trips. One of my favorites is the local ride from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island. We park our car by the piers and walk on. I like to go just before it gets dark. That way, we get the best of both worlds... leaving and getting to see the beautiful city in the light, and retuning to the beauty of the city lights at night. When there is a chill in the air, you can bring on a hot chocolate or buy one on board. Make a night of it and get dinner somewhere on the pier; there are a lot of great places. There are also some fun places within walking distance of the docks on Bainbridge Island. Not far from the dock is a park that you can walk to and have a picnic. It really is an inexpensive adventure and a great way to get some fresh air! I always enjoy myself and feel refreshed after a ride on a ferry!!!! Just make sure you have a jacket and a rubber band for your hair, the rides are always windy, and even on a nice day it can feel chilly out on the water!

For schedules and prices, go to the state web site at:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

The Best Valentine's Day Ever!!

I wanted so badly to tell my husband my heart's desire for Valentine's Day. But what I wanted even more was for him to come up with something thoughtful on his own...even if it was free! I wanted to know that he thought of something that I would especially like. So Valentine's Day came and went and he kept telling me, "I have something planned for next Saturday - a surprise that will be really fun!" In my head I'm thinking, fun for me or fun for you? He threw some deceptive clues my way in order to throw me off track (which totally worked). Saturday came and he finally revealed that a massage therapist would be coming over to give me a one hour massage. He would take our daughter and be gone during the time. What a shocker! Because this was my heart's desire! A massage to ease the discomforts of my pregnancy. I had dropped a lot of hints about this previous to Valentine's Day and I thought they had fallen on deaf ears. I was so pleased and felt so loved that my husband heard me and planned this special day for me.

In need of a little mystery?

Ever wonder about the darker side of Seattle? The paranormal? Check out this mystery tour by a former private eye around the Seattle area to haunted mansions, spooky legends and crime scenes!

Check out www.privateeyetours.com

The Thai Kitchen

The Thai Kitchen is located in upper Queen Anne, which has a beautiful neighborhood filled with old houses and cute little shops good for a stroll with your sweetie pie! The restaurant is in a house and family owned and run. And did I mention the food is da bomb (scuse the Seattle ghettoness)! Seriously everything is good! Plus the atmosphere is just perfect for holding hands on across the table.

2220 Queen Anne Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
$$

Love & War

As we know, all is not fair in love and war. Are you in the middle of a domestic dispute? Please refer to the category, "Easy ways to say, I love you," on the right hand side of your screen to remember why you married that (cute) idiot in the first place. :)

Old fashioned

Send an old-fashioned telegram. Call Western Union at 800-325-6000 or visit www.westernunion.com.

-Gregory J.P. Godek

"You don't have to be rich . . ."

"you shop, kids play
Drop the kids off at the IKEA supervised play area and ballroom, and shop in peace. This way, everyone's happy."
IKEA also has a restaurant . . . dinner date anyone?

Does anyone have reviews on this date?

Study Date?

Josh and I had a fun, quick little date at Barnes and Noble after running errands the other night. We went into the store and loaded our arms with fun easy read books like interesting facts and jokes. Then we walked up to the espresso bar on the mezzanine (people take books up there with them all the time), found a table, unloaded the books, and headed over to the counter to pick out some YUMMIES. In their selection of treats, they have cookies, muffins, CHEESECAKE FACTORY CHEESECAKE, and all sorts of desirables. I went straight for the Godiva Chocolate cheesecake (which, was half the price it would have been at The Cheesecake Factory, just over $4), Josh opted for a gooey chocolate cupcake. Then we took our deserts back to our table with the books and sat and read while we ate. We went through all sorts of books and read things to each other that we found funny. Josh enjoyed "The Darwin Awards" while I was telling him blonde jokes from a joke book. In the end, we bought "1001 Ways To Be Romantic"... which I just noticed is missing from the shelf, so Josh must have it at work with him, trying to find some ideas :-)! Shopping while you eat and date... how multi-taskerish is that?

Romance Package

My friend gave this to me as a bridal shower gift but I think it could apply to any special or ordinary occasion:

A flower vase (can get at local thriftstore) containing:
*tea lights
*fake flower petals (available a lot of places)
*A label or tag that reads:
"Romance Package- To create a romantic mood, spread flower petals generously over bed. Tea lights add intimate lighting & create a setting fit for a night of loving" or anything you choose but make it romantic.

Prescription for love

Get an empty bottle of prescription pills. Fill it with green M&Ms. Create a custom label, something like this:

PATIENT: (your pet name for your lover)
MEDICATION: LIBIDO LIBERATOR- EXTRA STRENGTH!
SIDE EFFECTS: LOVE SICKNESS & HOT FLASHES.
DOSAGE: A HANDFUL OR TWO.
REFILLS: SEE PRESCRIBING PHYSICIAN ONLY!
PHYSICIAN: DOCTOR OF LOVE, (your name)

Additional idea: Convince a local pharmacist to dispense one of these creations to your lover! (taken from "1001 ways to be Romantic" by Gregory Godek)

Kailey, I couldn't help but think of you when I read this. :)

For Valentine's day take a big bag of M&Ms and put the contents into a Victoria's Secret bag. Then put lingerie into the empty M&M bag. For kicks make him open the Vicky's bag first!

Tempero do Brasil

This one is for all of you Brazil fans out there. I have been meaning to try out this restaurant for almost a year now. We finally did last Friday night. A comida estava excelente e deu saudades do Brasil. I loved it! They serve Bahian food. Although I was never in Bahia, what Ben and I got was typical Brasilian food. We had an order of Feijoada (served with white rice and collared greens) with Aipim Frito (fried manioc) and Faraofa (hard to explain but excellent with beans). Ahhhh, I was in heaven. The atmosphere, serving style and everything was very laid back--typical Brazilian style. I definitely recommend this restaurant to any of you missing Brazil or any of you who would like a taste of Brazil.

Tempero do Brasil
5628 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
University Way just before Ravenna Blvd.
Hours: Tue-Sun, 5-10 pm

Telephone: 206-523-6229
www.temperodobrasil.net
$$

Experimental College

So Century Ballroom was a good way to bet bitten by the dancing bug, but I want to learn more without making a major commitment. The Experimental College offers all types of classes in a wide range of subjects: Dancing, Arts & Crafts, Finance, Culinary Arts, Yoga etc. Most of the classes are on UW campus, but you do not have to be a student, although you do get a discount if you are. The classes are often in the evening or on a Saturday, and they vary on how many times the class meets, some meet just once, others 4 etc. Bob and I are going to take a Salsa class that meets four times and it costs $54 per person. I'm excited about it, this guarantees us 4 weeks of consistent dating, and if you break down the cost over 4 weeks, it isn't that bad of a price for a date. I'm taking a drawing class right now through EC, and I really enjoy it, but we'll see how the dancing class goes :)

Here is the link for the EC main page
http://depts.washington.edu/asuwxpcl/

Check with a local college near you, most of these offer beginning Ballroom/Salsa classes.

Century Ballroom II

Not only does Century Ballroom have bands that come and perform, but they also have dancing with a DJ every night, and it's a lot cheaper. Every night they feature a different style of dance, salsa, tango, swing, waltz etc., and 30 minutes before the real dancing begins they offer a short lesson on the basics for the dancing impaired. Bob and I did this last week for salsa, and it was so much fun! We went for their salsa night, it was $7 each for the lesson and dancing from 8:30 till 12:30 pm. I thought they could have taught more during the lesson, but it was enough to keep us going for a bit and we picked up some more moves from people around us. The dress was all over the board, some people were in dresses, others were in jeans. Overall it was just fun to be out doing something active and learning something together. It was cheaper than a movie and we were working out a bit, rather than sitting for two hours, eating popcorn and getting fatter!

Fun Messages

When Matt and I were newlyweds, we would leave messages for each other. My favorite was when I came home from work and the entire living/dining room area was covered in balloons! Matt left instructions to pop them to reveal a message. He had taped "I LOVE YOU PUNKIN" to the floor. Though "Punkin" was a nickname that is no longer with us, it was so cute and it was such a nice suprise to come home to!

I think other "high school" type things like this would be really fun now--like covering the bedroom floor or any area of the house in hershey kisses and leaving a note saying that you kiss the ground your spouse walks on.

You can also write messages with an expo pen on the mirror and it will come off just fine.

Fun Valentines Gift

I am going to be out of town for Valentines this year, so I came up with a fun gift to be delivered to Rob on Valentines Day. I had so much fun putting it together, I thought I'd share in case anyone else wants to make one, too! Minus the tacky red bow, I thought it turned out pretty cute.

Here is the recipe:

From Dollar Tree (on Aurora and about 140th, in the same parking lot as Burger King)

• bucket or basket
• shrink wrap with pull-bow
• tissue paper
• yummy treats
• fun Valentines goodies
• a romantic card

From Walgreens/Target:

• Lucky Lovers Message Dice (had to spice it up somehow)
• his favorite foods - for Rob it includes Wheat Thins & Tostitos salsa
• a $1 stuffed animal - he will appreciate it just because it's out of the norm

I also went to Half-Price Books on Roosevelt and got a Jackie Chan VHS from their Clearance section -- everything in that section is $1-2 and they have a huge variety of books, movies, etc. (turn left as soon as you go in) Lastly, I included a Half-Price gift card since the poor guy is going to be bored while I'm gone. :)

You could do this very cheap and personalize it with some fun things. Plus you get to keep the cute container! ;)

Shhhhh.................don't tell Rob! It's a surprise!!

Here is a close-up: