WELCOME HOME, HAVE A DOUGHNUT

Well, as of today, I've officially been home one week, and I've got to say, it feels goooood!  It's the simple things, like the inexplicable feeling of comfort just by knowing you're surrounded by mountains and evergreens, or the smell of the cool, salty air that rolls off the water.  Of course, waking up and looking out at the view of the skyline doesn't hurt either.

THE TIME FINALLY CAME

When I first came to Florida, my intention was to stay until mid-May, then return until Seattle.  Well, obviously, that got prolonged for a while.  But I'm finally ready and able to move back to Seattle.  August 26 and I am so excited to go home!!

SUPER BOWL XLVIII

Note:  Totally forgot I had this post as a draft and just forgot to schedule it... FAIL.  But better late than never!!

MY SEAHAWKS WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!  Please allow me to gush about this for the next 10 million years (read: the rest of this post, at least) because we 12s have been waiting for this FOREVER.  I cannot even begin to explain my love for this team, and the pride I have for Seattle and in being a part of the 12th Man.  Super Bowl Sunday this year will forever be one of the greatest days in Seattle history and it means a lot to me and to all Seattle sports fans that we can say that.

TARTAN AND EMBELLISHMENT (or for a less descriptive and formal title, OMG AN OUTFIT POST)

This post could also be titled "LIVING UP TO MY BLOG'S NAME FINALLY BECAUSE WHERE THE HELL IS THE WHOLE STYLE ASPECT, MELANIE???"  Basically I got dressed today and then decided to put on lipstick, and immediately felt super fancy, so I was like "Hey Suze (sister), let's take a couple outfit pictures before we head out because I feel like I look as though I actually made some effort!"  In reality, I don't know if you could call it effort because all I did was add red lipstick, and I mean, that's a surefire way to make anything somewhat posh.  Oh god, I actually just used the word posh.  Even when I was in England, I didn't really use that word at all.

A REBUTTAL

I read this article (11 Reasons Why the Seattle Seahawks are the Absolute Worst) earlier and it is so completely ridiculous that I felt the need to post a point by point rebuttal to it.

1. No shit, Sherlock.  Also, you've clearly never been to Seattle.  I mean, I hate the Niners, but don't have anything against the city of SF.
2. So two different sports teams share a stadium during two different seasons... I fail to see how this is pertinent.

JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA

A week and a half later and I'm back!  Dude, this past 10 days had been so full of activity, I don't even know where to start. That's a lie.  I'll start with the thing that's been 98% of that activity - Jerry Springer: The Opera for Balagan Theatre.  I've been Assistant Stage Managing this show for the past month or so and immediately after the 1st of the year (literally, the next day), we began our tech week.  The hours, the load of work that everyone involved has done, and the amount we've accomplished in such a short time has been absolutely insane.

SETTLING IN, HALLOWEEN, AND A DOG PARK

Well, I've been back in Seattle for a week now, and it's been a week full of seeing friends and family, unpacking from abroad, and unpacking/settling into the new flat we're in.  It was a bit of an odd thought to know that when I came back to Seattle, I wouldn't be moving back into the family home.  The house got sold, and my dad and sister moved into this new flat on Alki Beach literally two days before I arrived, so it's been a whirlwind of boxes and furniture and my suitcases.  Despite it being absolutely mad, I was and am kind of happy about coming back to a new place.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?

IT'S THE KICKOFF TO SEAHAWKS SEASON, BABY!!!

(pun is so intended)

I have been in NFL withdrawal for way too long after our unnecessarily long off season (I mean, we should have beat the Falcons in that last game last season, but some idiot... no, I'm not going to be bitter).  Today was the first official game of the season, and against the Carolina Panthers.  After winning all our preseason games by considerable amounts, this game was a bit rough to watch, but a win is a win, and we'll take it.

I found a website to stream the game live online here in London so I could watch, because the play by plays are just not enough for this girl.  In fact, I really had to shower during the 2nd quarter and couldn't bring myself to stop watching, so I watched the game on my computer through the glass door of the shower.  Kept having to wipe the glass so I could see through, and I really only did shower things during the commercial breaks (it was a long shower), but if you ask me, that's dedication.

12th Man, loud and proud right here!

GO SEAHAWKS!!

SASQUATCH AND MACKLEMORE WEEKEND

I love music festivals!  Like really, I want to go to ALL of them.  Last weekend I was lucky enough to score a ticket to Sasquatch at the Gorge, which I hadn't thought I'd be able to go to because the tickets are sooooo expensive and I had to work some of the days that weekend.  But basically I was able to get a one day VIP pass for a reduced price through a friend of a friend and headed straight to the Gorge after work on Friday to meet up with my friend and her sister to see the Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis!

MACKLEMORE, you guys!!  The reason I wanted to go to Sasquatch in the first place, and I was able to catch him.  SO happy.  Also, best show I've been to, maybe even more so than Lady Gaga, and that's saying something because Gaga is hardly a concert - it's an experience.  But Macklemore.... now that was just an epic freaking party!  I have a lot of love and respect for Macklemore - he's my homeboy.  Seattle pride, y'all.  I have a lot of love and pride for my city, and his music exemplifies that.  So, yeah, the show was incredible.  Like, I'll go to every one of his that I can and I'll even go alone if I have to because I didn't even notice that anyone else was there with me.  We just dance, and we cry, and we laugh, and have a really, really, really, good time.  ;)  [For those who caught that reference, we're automatically friends. :p]

After we partied with Macklemore into the early morning hours, we wandered back through the campgrounds for some sleep.  I had to leave the next day as I had commitments and my ticket was a one day pass only.  Leaving was so, so hard.  I wanted to stay and see The Lumineers, The XX, Mumford & Sons, etc. SO. BADLY.  Tough times, guys.  :(  But I'm grateful I got to go for the time that I did, and I saw Macklemore, which was the most important one to me, and well as Arctic Monkeys and Vampire Weekend so I can't really complain too much.  :)

***I just have to add that The Gorge is incredible.  Sitting on the hill at the mainstage and watching performances with that incredible (#nofilter) sunset and view as the backdrop is surreal.  Again, one of the many reasons I love my beautiful Washington state.

sunny Seattle.. whaaaat?

Up until tonight, 2013 in Seattle has been, wait for it..... sunny?  Yes, folks, you read that correctly.  Seattle.  Sunny.  In January.  Now don't get me wrong, it's still been frickin' freezing, but the sun actually made an appearance.  I even had to wear sunglasses!  Until tonight, that is.  Now it's back to the familiar rain.

While the sun was here, however, my friend and I took her dog down to the park and walked along the beach, playing on the driftwood and walking through the sand, enjoying some gorgeous views and puppy shenanigans. It really was fun, despite the cold.  Because, hey.  Any day in Seattle with some sun is a "nice day", no matter what else shows up.

good ol' american breakfast

So, this is one of those posts that actually happened, like, a week ago, but that I didn't really get around to posting until now...  FYI, y'all should be prepared for the next couple of posts to be kinda like that.  The holidays have been busy, yo!

But basically this is from when my cousins and sister and grandma and I went to breakfast at an old diner-type place in West Seattle called The Luna Park Cafe.  I'm sure I've mentioned it before somewhere, but all you really need to know is that they make amazingly delicious all-American breakfasts for a low price in a little diner cafe that is just filled with fun stuff to look at.  So if you're in town, I highly recommend it.

the final night

The afternoon was spent packing using countless drafts of packing lists {I'm determined to do this with a high level of organization}, much trying on of clothes, and indecisive movement of clothes in and out of my closet.  The evening was then spent at Cactus on Alki Beach, drinking prickly pear mojitos, eating a ton of chips and salsa, and watching the sunset over the Sound with some of my favorite people from Starbucks.  All in all a wonderful end to a final day in Seattle.

I'm feeling kind of zen at this point, because I am comfortable under the knowledge that I should be able to stay employed at Starbucks while abroad, and because the packing process has proved much easier that I originally thought it would be.  Also, that I don't need a visa.  Now THAT would cause me to freak out.  Talk about stressful.

Tomorrow I leave for London.

Wow.

this is what I call a thrift win

From left to right: Gap double-breasted belted trench, London-esque top, fun comfy pants

Usually when I go to thrift stores and such, I never find things I'm in love with.  I rarely even find things I like enough to try on, and then there's the matter of sizing and such.  So when I leave a thrift store with anything, it's a success.  Yesterday, I left Goodwill with three things!  Three!!  That's the ultimate win.  Especially since I got the Gap trench coat, which is so well fitting and versatile that I can't wait to wear it around Europe this fall.  The top kind of reminded me of London or the queen's guard in the detailing on the front.  And the pants... well, I've been inspired recently by some other bloggers wearing the loose, harem/pajama pant trend.  I'm still not sure if it's for me, but I figured I can always just turn them into some fun shorts and use the excess to make a knotted boho turban-ish headband.

Best part?

It all came to $24.06

Like I said... win.

friday at the street fair

The West Seattle Street Fair is going on this weekend, where local artists and shop owners can come display and sell their works and products.  There's live music, food off the grill and from restaurants/bars lining the street, big blow up carnival bouncy things and slides for kids, face painting, spray on tattoos, etc...  Not to mention lots of really cool stuff you can buy {like that clock there - how awesome is that?!}.  I also am a huge fan of the jewelry.  So many beautiful handcrafted, one of a kind pieces for pretty decent prices.  It's like Etsy came to life in front of me!

Since I work most of the weekend, my friend and I went yesterday, wandering around, soaking up the sun, and getting ice cream {if you're in West Seattle, go to Husky Deli and get ice cream - they make it themselves every day and have more unique flavors than ice cream chains, and just as many/more options}.  I got the nutella ice cream, which is as bomb as it sounds, believe me.