Scrapbook on the Road: Seattle

I am really good at collecting little bits and pieces of "stuff" while I'm on vacation. I sometimes put these together into albums or individual lay-outs to remember the pieces of my vacation.

I decided, though, that I wanted to avoid the post-vacation pile of "stuff" this time by making a little scrapbook while I was actually traveling.

I started by checking out Ali Edwards's Scrapbook on the Road Class.

Honestly? My album is pretty much Ali's album.

I also picked up an add-on from Cocoa Daisy. Many of my supplies came from there. I did add lots of ledger papers from my stash and a few Washington-related items I scrounged Etsy for. I also chose a travel album and a few embellishments from Evalicious. I found these really difficult to incorporate into my album.

I had lots of supplies left over from the Cocoa Daisy kit and didn't end up using hardly any of the supplies from Evalicious. As usual, I over-bought.

I decided to divide the album into sections - there was an introduction, a section for each day, and a conclusion. We were there for six days, so I created a section with all of the same components (although in different sizes and shapes) for each section. I used a Hambly Clearly Heavy transparency with quotes about travel (an idea stolen from AE's album) to "divide" the space between sections.

Anyway. . . here is the empty album I took to Seattle with me. I just put it in a big Ziploc bag and threw it in my carry-on luggage.

I put together a little bag of supplies to use while traveling. I hauled along: Crop-o-dile, Staz-On in black, paper clips, a mini-stapler and extra staples, adhesive and a refill, Washi tape, a glue stick, some shipping tags, a scissors, a date stamp, and a few embellishments. I just kept it all in a plastic bag stuffed in my checked luggage.

I traveled with my camera. I did bring a few different lenses and a flash, but I kept my 35mm 2.0 on my camera almost all of the time.  I also brought a Polaroid camera and a few rolls of back-up film. I wasn't real thrilled with the Polaroid, honestly. I want to love it; I really do. But, I have a hard time getting a clear photograph if the light isn't absolutely perfect. More about that another time.

So, now you're wondering what my album looks like filled with Polaroids and ephemera and journaling, right?

Well, you'll be holding your breath for awhile.

My album came home empty and accompanied by a giant pile of "stuff" - the exact "stuff" I hoped to avoid bringing home with me.

What happened? I think it really came down to packing my days of vacation WAY TOO full. By the time I got back to the hotel at night it was late; my belly was full, and I was exhausted. I just didn't leave time in my day to reflect and think and savor. I really wish I would have. I think this would have made me come home far more relaxed and helped me enjoy my travel time more, too.

My plan now is to develop some of my favorite pictures, organize the "stuff", and attach it all within the album. I'm not sure that I will actually scrapbook any pages of the trip. I'm thinking I can capture my thoughts and favorite memories in the little album (although it's not really that little - it uses 2 1/2" rings!).

I want to do this soon, but I will be glad to have this week of blog posts to rely on if I don't get to it right away.

Meanwhile, I am already scheming about what I want my Napa travel album to look like for July. Then, I will be more committed to actually filling my album.

I will keep you posted about how this little project ends up turning out.

What I Ate: Seattle

So - what did we eat in Seattle?

I knew we would eat a lot on vacation. I was so sure of this that I packed mostly fat pants. And, I was right. We did eat a lot. Unfortunately, I wouldn't say that Seattle was the city I ate the best. (I think I'd give that award to Phillie.) I didn't eat anything bad - I just wasn't "wowed!" often.


Crush.
Dinner on Sunday.
We shared a cheese plate (Two Face Blue and something else).
Brad had Meyer Lemon & Pecorino Risotto with Sautéed Sea Scallops.
I had 48 Hour Braised Painted Hills Beef Short Ribs.

I especially enjoyed the decor here - very minimalist and simple. The cheese plate and accompanying bread were fabulous. The entrees were okay. It was definitely a splurge. I also loved that it wasn't at all touristy - completely meant for locals.

Lowell's.
Breakfast on Monday.
We both had coffee.
I had a Garden Scramble with sour dough toast.
Brad had a Dungeness Crab Omelet.

An expensive but tasty breakfast with a great view from the third floor.

Ivar's.
Lunch on Monday.
We shared:
Halibut and Chips
White Clam Chowder

It was pouring rain and totally windy by the time we got to lunch. This place had a little take-out / fast food location and a fancy location right next to each other. We didn't realize that and ended up eating take-out in the rain. Tasty but not exactly relaxing or pretty.

Pike Brewing Co..
A Monday-afternoon beer.
Brad tried the Naughty Nellie.
I tried the Pike Weisse Ale.

Again, it was nice to get out of the rain. The beer wasn't outstanding, though. Maybe we're just spoiled from WI beer.

Oddfellows.
Dinner on Monday.
I had the special: herbed sweet potato gnocchi.
Brad had roasted free-range chicken with savory bread pudding.

Our waiter on Sunday night recommended this place. It. was. outstanding. And, it was VERY WELL decorated. And, it wasn't at all meant for tourists.

Dick's Drive-In.
Dessert on Monday night.
I had a strawberry shake.
Brad had a hot fudge sundae.

My brother recommended this place. We should have gone back for a late-night burger at some point.

Top Pot Doughnuts.
Breakfast (in the car) on Tuesday.
Brad had regular coffee and a Bavarian Creme.
I had a honey latte and a Raspberry Glazed Old Fashioned.

I don't really love doughnuts, but I sure loved these!

Toga's Soup House. (Port Angeles)
Lunch on Tuesday.
We shared:
Split Pea and Ham Soup
Baked Dungeness Crab Panini

Delicious - and about the only nice place in Port Angeles.

Pagliacci's Pizza.
Late-night dinner Tuesday.
We shared a Centioli.
Brad had a slice of double pepperoni.
I had a slice of AGOG Primo.

It was tough to find a pizza place that was open past 9PM. That's how we ended up here. It was good, although there weren't many slice options by the time we got there.

Jade Garden Dim Sum.
Wednesday lunch.
Am not entirely sure what we ate, but we shared it all.
Pork Dumplings
Crab Dumplings
Spare Ribs
Crab on Green Pepper

Completely stressful! Lots and lots of people and many older Asian women pushing around carts of food - no one was really able to tell us what our choices were or what we were eating. The food was good, though, and I'm glad we got to try something completely new.

Assaggio.
Wednesday dinner.
We shared a Caesar salad.
Brad had a gnocchi and seafood special.
I had veal parmesan.

This was a total disappointment. The food was very traditional Italian and only good--not at all outstanding; the prices were high.

Pike Place Market.
Thursday breakfast:
Coffee from (the first) Starbucks
Blue Cheese
Grapes, apples, and pears from Sosio's Produce.
Chocolate Croissants from Le Panier.

This was perfect - I just wish the weather would have been a little better.

Red Hook Brewery: Forecaster's Pub.
Thursday lunch.
I had a Bleu Cheese Bacon Burger with a Blonde Golden Ale.
Brad had a California Burger with a beer that we can't remember the name of.

Not a great lunch at all. Both burgers were clearly just from a frozen patty with little seasoning or flavor. The beer was okay - not great.

Jak's Grill.
Thursday dinner.
Brad had a NY Strip.
I had "The Skewers."
We shared a dessert special--a molten chocolate cake with salted caramel.

One of the people we met at a winery recommended this place. We had to wait more than an hour for a table - just enough time to visit a few local bars. The food was tasty and plentiful.

Tree House Point.
Friday Breakfast.
Homemade granola, hard-boiled eggs, coffee, scones, fruit, and conversation.

Breakfast was included in our tree house stay. Coffee was served at 7:30 with food at 8:30. Unfortunately, we had to leave by about 8:45 to catch our flight. We talked all through breakfast with the cook at the resort; she was telling us about visiting Alaska and why she moved to WA.

Places I Wish We Ate:
Trophy Cupcakes
Delancey
The Herbfarm
Serious Pie
Steelhead Diner