Beauty by Vera

Tags

Hair, home services, Makeover, makeup, Vera Beautify Seattle

I went to my office holiday party this last week, an evening event – timed for right after work. Since I am working with some looming deadlines and had a multitude of tasks to accomplish, I decided that I would work right up until I had to leave the office for the party.

About ten minutes before I needed to head out to the event, I found myself rushing to the ladies room to quickly change into my fancy dress, dab a bit of color on my lips and cheeks, brush mascara onto my lashes and finger comb my unruly locks of hair into a smoother version of a birds nest.

Does this sound like a familiar scenario to you? It was fine – I looked fine (got plenty of compliments on my dress!) – but I had a thought that there could be a better way to set myself up for a fun night of revelry.

A more calm, relaxed way. One that really gets me in the mood to celebrate – And one that can involve a glass of bubbly!

Enter Vera Beautify. A new service in Seattle that allows you to go online, peruse their selection of stylists – complete with reviews and photos, choose one that fits your needs and book a service (updo, blow-out or makeup) to be performed in the comfort of your own home.

I recently had a makeover from Vera Beautify with Ashli who came to my home to do my hair and makeup.

She arrived punctually and was set up in no time – while I poured myself a glass of sparkling wine! All she needed was a clear workspace with a flat surface, chair, a mirror and some light.

It was so indulgent! She started with aroma-therapy and a light neck massage.

How relaxing! Ashli was so warm and friendly. And her focus was on my needs and comfort.

While Ashli worked on my blowout we talked like we had known each other for years.

We talked about everything from hair and makeup (of course), blogging and family, to the arts and even philosophy.

She just made me feel so comfortable – and at home!

And, oh how she pampered me with the gentle strokes of her make-up brushes – I felt like a queen!

While I hardly ever wear makeup, she told me how fortunate I was to have the lashes I have and made me promise to at least apply mascara when I go out – I’ve been keeping my promise Ashli!

She primped…

and primped!

Until ta-da!

Ashli transformed my look better than I could have ever imagined! I did not feel “done up” – I was still me – but a much better, more polished me!

Now I just need my fancy dress!

 

Prost! – Oktoberfest Northwest 2014

Tags

beer, Chicken dance, Family event, German food, Hammerschlagen, Manuela Horn, Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest Northwest, Puyallup

I just love this time of year! With our German heritage, my family and I enjoy celebrating Oktoberfest each and every fall.

Some years that means hosting a gathering at our house (here are some ideas for hosting your own!), some years we just make a special intimate dinner with a smaller crowd (serving this authentic rouladen recipe!) and some years we make the trek to Leavenworth for their big multi-weekend event.

But last year we decided to try something different.

Longing to enjoy a big to-do, but not really wanting to expense a whole weekend east of the mountains (it gets pricey with a two-night minimum stay on festival weekends), we checked out the festivities at Oktoberfest Northwest held at the Washington State Fair & Event Center in Puyallup, WA.

And we were not disappointed!

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of this fun indoor event and I hope you will join me in the revelry!

Event Dates:
October 3-5, 2014
Event Hours:
Friday- Noon – midnight
Saturday – 11a – midnight
Sunday – 11a – 6pm

Location:
Washington State Fair and Events Center in Puyallup

Admission:
FREE on Friday from noon-3pm
Regular Price after 3pm on Friday and all day Saturday ($10)
Sunday HALF PRICE all day ($5) courtesy of Alaska Airlines and The News Tribune
Children 12 and under FREE ALL WEEKEND

The biergarten certainly is impressive, but to keep us all safe please be smart about your transportation plan –  there are free soft drinks or drip coffee for those who sign up as a designated driver.

Families are welcome in the Festhalle Biergarten until 7 p.m. each evening (Sunday, families are welcome all day!); for the remainder of the evening, guests must be 21 years of age or older.

And there are plenty of activities for the whole family!

The German School of Tacoma will be on site with special arts and crafts projects.

Kids won’t want to miss the opportunity to take part in an authentic May Pole dance with members of the Enzian Schuhplattler Dancers, pumpkin decorating and games like Corn Hole Toss and more.

On Saturday and Sunday only there will also be free face painting and an ALL-NEW Scavenger Hunt with a fun prize for every child who participates while supplies last.

Kids can pick up their Scavenger Hunt instructions at the Root Bier Garden between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The game, Hammerschlagen, is a popular activity at Oktoberfest. The goal is to drive a nail into a cross-section of wood faster than your opponent.

Each year the Best of the Best compete for a space in the Hammerschlagen Tournament of Champions Wall of Champions.

Who will be champion in 2014? Could it be you? Sign up on site at the event for your chance at bragging rights, glory, and a whole mess of great prizes.

2014 Prizes:
1st place: $150 and commemorative Seahawks Super Bowl Champion  stein
2nd place: $50 and event stein
3rd place: event stein

Children are encouraged to not play Hammerschlagen in the adult area for safety reasons.

There is a Kids Hammerschlagen with kid-sized hammers and easy to hit nails (children need to be supervised by an adult to play)!

Find that perfect gift for someone (or yourself!) while wandering among all of the great souvenirs at the German Corner.

The German Corner features everything from steins to cookbooks to authentic German clothing. Browse their selection ahead of time at www.germanplaza.com

I plan on buying one of these cute little purses this year! I do hope they have them again!

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Entertainment at Oktoberfest Northwest keeps the party going all day long and late into the night!

Whether you’re looking to sway to the sounds of Edelweiss, get plucky with the Chicken Dance or hit the dance floor to the late hours of the night, Oktoberfest Northwest has it all!

On Friday, October 3, at 6:15pm join in the fun as they tap the Oktoberfest Firkin to officially open Oktoberfest Northwest!

And don’t miss  the swing girl! Manuela Horn & her Oktoburlesques! At nearly seven feet tall, this Austrian Amazon will perform yodelicious interpretations of new & classic Top 40 hits.

Manuela is the Queen of Oktoberfest.  With the motto “It’s always Oktoberfest somewhere,” Manuela emcees and headlines the biggest Oktoberfests across America.

Oh! And the FOOD! My goodness!

You want brats and beer? You’ve got it.

Plus pretzels, schnitzel, strudel, and a whole list of other authentic German treats! Like the tasty Cabbage Rous (Kraut Roulden) in tomato sauce, and the Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancake) served with apple sauce and sour cream!

German food heaven!

Also back by popular demand this year is the Oktoberfest Northwest Running of the Wieners!

Multiple races, costume contests, great fun for the whole family in a stadium atmosphere right inside the heart of the event.

This is a Sunday-only attraction. Go here for more details or to register your wiener. Click here for a schedule of events!

Don’t forget – admission if free on Friday (today!) until 3 pm – so hurry down (and maybe we can do the chicken dance together!) See you there!

 

Amazing Grazing at the Sunset Supper

Tags

pike place market, Pike Place Market Foundation, Piketoberfest, Rachel the Pig, Seattle, Sunset Supper

There are some days when nothing tastes good. Like when you are sick – as I have been this last couple of weeks.

Then, there are days when everything you eat just tastes amazing! That’s what happened when I attended this summer’s Sunset Supper at the the Pike Place Market last month.

I know it’s been a few weeks, but I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you my favorites bites (and sips) that I enjoyed at this wonderful event.

I happened to be hanging out with a pescatarian that evening, and joyfully for her there was plenty in the way of seafood.

One of my favorite tastes of the night was this house smoked salmon with buttermilk, chives, jalapeno and steelhead row on a bagel chip from Manhattan restaurant.

Chef Thierry Rautureau was there representing his downtown Seattle Loulay Kitchen and Bar.

The Chef in Hat served up some lovely smoked salmon with fingerling potato, citrus creme fraiche, cherry tomato and basil.

At the City Catering Company booth there was a savory hamachi crudo with sea beans, french breakfast radish, togarashi powder and yuzu oil. What a gorgeous dish!

And Flying Fish featured shrimp ceviche with pineapple, jicama, mango, avocado and cilantro.

After several seafood tastes, this meat eater was in the mood for something more to sink my teeth into and this event did not disappoint!

These grilled beef short ribs from Chan Seattle called to me and momentarily satisfied my craving for (RED) meat!

Then it was on to this Asian duck confit on a homemade brioche roll with spicy aioli, homemade kimchi and micro greens from Thomas Cuisine Management.

Kaspars Special Events & Catering was grilling up some enticing looking coiled sausages. I am not one to pass up sausage of any type!

I was delighted with this grilled lamb and potato sausage with curry cabbage slaw.

Just a few booths down was more sausage at Local 360…

The rabbit bratwurst with stone fruit mustard and house kraut was tasty indeed.

I do love dessert, but my preference tends towards the savory side. I was thrilled with the nice selection of not-too-sweet-desserts.

Such as this breakfast complete in a mini cupcake from Yellow Leaf Cupcakes. Pancake cupcake with maple frosting topped with crumbled bacon.

And this olive oil ice cream from Aragona. Very interesting – I loved it!

The prettiest dessert of the night and the favorite among my friends, who like their sweets sweet, was this strawberry shortcake from Macrina bakery.

But my favorite is always chocolate, and City Catering Company had done it up right with this peanut butter daquoise with devils food cake, peanut feuillantine and dulce de leche.

Drinks were aplenty at Sunset Supper as well.

We tried this lovely Verna Mae Viognier from Sonoris Wines.

And some rose from Alexandria Nicole winery – they also make one of my favorite Washington reds – the Jet Black!

3 Howls Distillery was also on hand trying out samples of their fantastic spirits – I’m not a big shot person but just loved the blood orange vodka!

Rachel was all decked out for her big night, and she had every reason to the celebrate! Through Sunset Supper, the Pike Place Market Foundation raised $286,565 for community services in Pike Place Market!

Speaking of raising funds for this worthy non-profit, on Sunday, September 28 from 5:00-9:00 PM, Pike Brewing Company will host PIKETOBERFEST— a Fall Harvest Festival featuring beer, wine, spirits, cider, local artisan foods, sausage, and charcuterie.

PIKETOBERFEST is a harvest festival featuring local and imported German-style food and drink. It is an opportunity to compare local craft beers spirits, liqueurs, wines and spirits with their German counterparts.
There will be an abundance of extraordinary foods to sample and Pike Brewing Company is teaming up with The Pike Place Market Foundation to make Piketoberfest a benefit to support efforts in providing medical services, low-income housing, child care, and other social services to people in need.

2ND ANNUAL PIKETOBERFEST FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL
Featuring Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider, Local Artisan Food, Sausage, and Charcuterie
Benefit for PIKE PLACE MARKET FOUNDATION

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

PIKE BREWING COMPANY
1415 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

Cost: $40.00
Admission includes: all food, authentic Piketoberfest beer mug, 10 drink tickets, music, and up to $4 of validated parking at Russell Investment Garage.

Purchase tickets HERE.

 

Locally Brewed Cupcakes at Cupcake Royale

Tags

Cupcake Royale, cupcakes, fall, Fall flavors, locally brewed, Oktoberfest

I know it still feels like summer today, but fall really is just around the corner. Labor Day is coming up this weekend and the kids are getting ready to return to school – mine go next week. Are yours already in school? Frankly I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that both of mine are in high school this year. How did that happen?!

I love the sunshine and carefree days of summer, but this time of year is truly my favorite. The rich flavors of the season take me back to so many happy times in my life:

Growing up, the German Chocolate Cake my mother would lovingly make each year for my birthday in late August.

How I met and fell in love with my husband in the fall and we (both of German decent) celebrate Oktoberfest with our children each year – complete with my great grandmother’s German apple cake.

And pumpkin reminds me of the days when the kids were little and we would go out to the pumpkin patch at a local farm and pick our own pumpkin – happily munching on lovely Washington apples and pears and bringing home some fresh-pressed cider for later.

So when I recently received a visit from the “cupcake fairy” at work it had me really looking forward to autumn. My friends over at Cupcake Royale generously sent me a sneak taste of their delicious fall offerings and there is a bonus – these cupcakes come locally brewed! With these cupcakes you can have your booze and eat it too!

Celebrate the Fall Harvest and Seattle’s best craft breweries with Cupcake Royale’s Locally Brewed Cupcakes! They baked up a whole new line of cupcakes, just in time for Oktoberfest! Their master bakers brought in the master brewers from Elysian, Hilliard’s, 2 Beers, Seattle Cider Co., and Finnriver Cider to create four new cupcakes; Caramel Brandied Pear, Pumpkin Ale, Tipsy Apple, and German Chocolate Stout.

Caramel Brandied Pear –A vanilla cupcake filled with a ginger and pear compote, topped with Finnriver’s Pear Brandy buttercream and pear caramel drizzle. Cupcake Royale uses Finnriver’s Pear Brandy to really amplify the pear flavor. It’s sweet, thick and SUPER aromatic, as well as flavorful.  They’ve always been fond of Simple and Crisp pear chips and wanted to incorporate them into something really special, so to top this off, they have a pear chip streusel that they feel does the locally made product justice!

Pumpkin Ale –A Pacific Northwest pumpkin spice cupcake, topped with an Elysian’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale buttercream and candied spiced pumpkin seeds. Made with fresh pumpkin puree that is special ordered months in advance from Stahlbush Island Farms in Oregon. A favorite pumpkin beer amongst the baking staff is Elysian’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale because it is not overly sweet or spicy. After testing many an ale, they knew Elysian was the winner! We all love something crunchy to snack on while drinking our brew, so they got busy in the bakeshop and candied some pumpkin seeds with salt and spices – Happy Hour cupcakes anyone?

Tipsy Apple –An apple cupcake topped with Finnriver’s Apple Cider buttercream and apple cider caramel drizzle. Made with apples that are picked right here in Washington! The apples are shredded seconds before they are added to the batter, maintaining the crunch and texture. The effervescent Finnriver apple cider is reduced down to a syrup then added to Cupcake Royale’s legendary buttercream. For even more apple booziness, it is drizzled with a cider caramel! How about them apples?

German Chocolate Stout – A moist chocolate stoutcake made with 2 Beers’ Jive Oatmeal Espresso Milk Stout and filled with the traditional German Chocolate Cake’s coconut frosting topped with chocolate buttercream, toasted coconut chips, and chocolate curls. Cupcake Royale knows their chocolate cake is already Seattle’s best, so the only ingredient that could make it better is STOUT BEER!  Beer makes the cake super moist and hoppy, almost tangy! A sweet, creamy brown sugar, coconut and walnut filling might sound over-the-top, but they’ve added some sea salt to curb the sweetness and balance the flavors. This is a more sophisticated German Chocolate Cake – Royale Style! Bottoms Up!

Locally Brewed Cupcakes will be available in all Cupcake Royale cafes September 10 through October 31.

Party with a Purpose

Tags

dessert, Doughnuts, Event, FROST, Mill Creek, Not Just a Mommy, Party with a Purpose, Pediatric Cancer Research, Seattle Children's, Treveri Cellars

Who doesn’t love doughnuts?!

And for those of you who you haven’t had them, let me tell you – FROST doughnuts in Mill Creek are just some of the best around!

I am so excited to share with you a very special event that pairs these wonderful doughnuts with one of my favorite bloggers, for a cause that is dear to my heart.

Party With A Purpose is a charitable event benefitting Pediatric Cancer Research at Seattle Children’s Hospital. FROST, in collaboration with local lifestyle blogger Dawn Smith, of Not Just A Mommy, will be accepting donations to Seattle Children’s upon entry to FROST on Friday, August 22nd from 5PM to 8PM.

For each $5 donation, guests will receive a ticket for a glass of sparkling wine provided by Treveri Cellars; for each $10 donation, guests will receive a wine ticket as well as a swag bag which will be filled with various gifts provided by our many sponsors. Be sure and stop by early, there is a limited number of swag bags.

Enjoy wine and dessert pairings provided by FROST while children decorate their own doughnuts, all while effortlessly giving back to our local community.

Hope to see you there!

Kitchenbug – My Seattle Recipe Box

Tags

ethnic food, food, Foodportunity, Kitchenbug, Recipe box, Seattle

In honor of the upcoming Foodportunity event that I mentioned to you last week, sponsors of the event, Kitchenbug, invited some local food bloggers to create a recipe box and share our favorite Seattle-inspired foods.

Kitchenbug is an online platform for sharing and collecting recipes from any website. With Kitchenbug’s simple point and click process you can organize all your recipes into boxes, follow other users’ recipes, adjust recipes from U.S to Metric and search your recipes with search terms like low fat, low cholesterol and heart healthy.

Having guests visit us this week from out of town was a wonderful reminder of just how fortunate I am to live here in Seattle.

Now don’t get me wrong, I grew up here, I love my city and constantly wax poetic about Seattle to anyone who will listen! But sometimes I forget just how special it is until I see it through another set of eyes.

We are so fortunate to have the access that we do to such great food. A veritable wealth of restaurants, food trucks and local food purveyors.

We have the bounty that is the Pike Place Market right smack dab in the center of the city, not to mention several local neighborhood farmers markets that fill almost every day of the week.

There’s an abundance of fresh seafood (salmon is king here!) and ethnic food from every corner of the world. There’s a proliferation of Asian influence, and on any given day I can choose to enjoy food from my German and Scandinavian roots or branch out further to French, Persian, Greek, Salvadorian (papusas!), Ethiopian, Hawaiian, Filipino (ah lumpia!) – the list goes on.

Our nearby Canadian neighbors also let us borrow their culinary delicacies – like Poutine! Small food producers abound, from cupcakes and salted caramels (and salted caramel cupcakes!) to a plethora of locally produced charcuterie, cheeses and wines.

Check out some of my favorite flavors of Seattle at Kitchenbug and be sure to sign up and build your own recipe boxes!

What do you like best about Seattle’s food scene? You too can share your favorite Seattle inspired food! Just leave me a note in the comments below!

A Visit to Swiftwater Cellars

Tags

Cle Elem, Don Watts, entertainment, Event venue, food, Linda Trotta, restaurants, Swiftwater Cellars, travel, wine, Winery

Sometimes, with everything going on in life, one needs a break from the harried day-to-day. A little get-away can be just the ticket to feeling refreshed.

A few weeks ago my cousin and I took a drive and headed east from Seattle to Swiftwater Cellars, a destination winery near Cle Elem. We discovered a treat just far enough from the city to help us feel like we were getting away, but close enough to make for a day trip.

Swiftwater Cellars has everything one needs for a relaxing respite from the city. Wine tasting, delicious food, entertainment (check their concert lineup here), golf and year-round outdoor activities all within one venue. And, had we decided on an overnight trip, Swiftwater Cellars is conveniently located right next door to the elegant and luxurious Suncadia resort.

I gave a nod to Swiftwater Cellars on the blog earlier this spring when I visited Seattle’s premier food and wine event, Taste Washington. I was so excited when I got an invitation to come and learn more about the facility.

As inexperienced wine drinkers who want to know more about wine, my cousin and I were both a bit nervous about our level of knowledge and ability to speak the “language”.

But Linda Trotta, Swiftwater’s resident winemaker who has been making wine for 25 years, put us right at ease. Linda’s philosophy when it comes to wine is that is should be approachable and accessible. “You can enjoy wine at whatever level you are at”, she told us.

After giving us a tour of the wine-making facilities, we sat down with Linda to do some wine tasting 101 – a lesson that was way more fun than any school I have ever attended!  Bringing out flights of wine (which she pointed out are less intimidating than ordering a glass) and encouraging us to trust our taste buds, she held our hand all along the way and gave us tips on how to explore the essence of the wine by swirling, sniffing, tasting and note taking (so we know what we like for the future!)

She talked with us about how there are many conditions that can change the way the grape reacts and thus how the wine tastes.

There are subtle nuances of the grapes – where they are grown, the sunlight, the soil, when they were picked – and all of this can effect the flavor profile and how wine behaves.

Of course, how can one taste a bunch of wine without something in the belly?

This winery is unique with a restaurant, The Hoist House, attached – so that all the food can be perfectly matched with the wine through collaborative efforts of the winemaker and chef.

It is quite an experience to have the winemaker dine with you at a restaurant and help you to perfectly pair the wine with the food.

I have always been fascinated by the notion of pairings. It is interesting to me how food can change the flavor of the wine and wine can help enhance the taste of the food.

We were hooked from the starter with this light and tasty flatbread topped with brie cheese and pear slices.

And this most delicious, melt in your mouth, pork shank is one of the best things I have ever eaten!

You don’t have to worry about getting enough to eat here. Portions at The Hoist House are generous.

Owner Don Watts has achieved his vision of creating an at-home environment where the food and wine is plentiful so that guests never have to wonder where the wine is in the glass, or where the food is on the plate.

He has also succeeded at creating a space where people will want to celebrate life’s special moments.

We had the pleasure of touring the beautiful facility with Don, and were impressed with the versatile event space that it is.

What a fantastic place this would be to hold an event!

Inside and out, there are several stunning spaces available to fit one’s needs.

Anything is possible, from small corporate meetings to large outdoor weddings, intimate dinners in the romantic barrel rooms, or wine tasting with friends on a private balcony.

What I didn’t expect from my visit to Swiftwater Cellars, and what truly makes this place exceptional is heart. It originates from the owners, Don and Lori Watts.

Every part of this family run business is infused with little touches of them and their dedication to making the guest feel welcome and at home – away from home.

From the moment Don greeted us a handshake and his infectious smile, to the great big bear hug he gave us as we left, we felt such great warmth. Just like part of the family.

It all made me want to linger just a bit longer…

With a setting like this, wouldn’t you?