{Taken with iPhone}

Friday night, someone looked at me and asked, “are you pregnant? You’re glowing!”

You can breathe. I’m not pregnant, not even close.

I’m happy.

After celebrating my 4 year wedding anniversary with the love of my life, I felt I was living in a dream – he’s a dream.

Friday morning I flew to Seattle, where my dad greeted me with the biggest smile. My heart melted. I didn’t realize how much I had missed him. Not only did I step out to see him, but the sun was shinning making Seattle {one of} the most beautiful place on Earth.

My dad and I decided to grab lunch at the Met, which was our monthly meeting spot when I worked in the city. The ladies who’ve been taking care of us for years welcomed us with big hugs and then twisted our arms into splurging on some cocktails. After a long lunch, my dad walked back to finish some work while I strolled over to Nordstrom for a quick alterations job.

Next, the Farmers Market. My happy place.

My dad has been going for years and was finally able to introduce me to the guys. We bought all the vegetables, fruit meat and fish – an entire Salmon for the weekend – it was my grandma’s 80th birthday and there was a houseful of family to feed. By the end, we had enough to feed the neighborhood.

There were two vegetables we had never tried

1. Garlic Spears – delicious! cooking tips below

2. Mini Eggplants – haven’t tried yet, but plan on cutting in half and roasting with a little olive oil and salt + pepper

After all that shopping, dad took me to our little {family} spot, Place Pigalle. We sat at the bar and continued to catch up and dream of all the possibilities of what we could create. It was beautiful.

We left the city feeling reconnected and excited about our future and headed home to a house filled with family.

How could I not be glowing after all that?

A few other weekend highlights

• Fabulous lunch at Cafe Flora with Erin {Apartment #34} and Kelley Moore. I wish I could do this every week, these women are so inspiring.
• Full house meant my sister & I had to share a bed. We never stopped talking. I loved it.
• On Sunday my sister, cousin and I visited our cousin’s coffee shop, Cafe Javasti. Best coffee, crepes (+ buckwheat option) and comfortable “family-like” environment.

It was such a good weekend, I’m coming back on Thursday for a girls (mom, sister & I) weekend on Orcas Island. It gets better. My husband will be joining us on Sunday. Orcas has been our special place since we were kids and has been years since we’ve both been back.

{Photographed by With Style and Grace}

Introducing: Garlic Spears

It’s a cross between asparagus and artichoke, but with a mild garlic flavor. I loved it.

Here are a few different ways to prepare the garlic spears:

• Roasted, sauteed or steamed
• Serve warm or cold
• Appetizer, side dish or pureed and made as a soup
• Sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt + roast = enjoy!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!