Pike Place and Pizza

Last week my father came to town on a business trip and we got to spend a few days together. Of course that means a trip to Pike Place and lots of food. We actually got to spend a good amount of time together just talking and watching movies but one afternoon I got off from work early and we took him downtown to Seattle. We showed him all the typical sights and made our way to the famous Pike Place Market. 

After wondering the shops and trying to figure out what we wanted to eat we finally all agreed to try a new pizza place that I had heard about on Facebook. Okay, I didn't really hear a lot but I saw pictures...and these pictures were of huge pizzas. I knew I had to go and with my husband and father in tow I knew I wouldn't have to eat it all alone. Italian Family Pizza is a newer joint right in the heart of Seattle. In October they will celebrate their 1 year anniversary and I hope many more. They make the dough fresh daily and the pizzas HUGE. We went at an off time on a Wednesday afternoon so the place was empty but I'm assuming they are busier most days. Or at least I hope they are. The one bad thing was no straws. I'm a straw snob...what do you mean you don't have straws? I'm sorry... that's like not having a fork to me. I need a straw. 

Waiting for the pie to arrive. 

I think their faces say it all. 

It was really good! The pizza was the size of the table, wider than my shoulders, and hotter than hell. I think Dad burnt his tongue off and I almost dropped mine in my lap trying to put a slice on my plate. If you're in the area I highly suggest a visit. They only have a few choices pizza wise but they are the classics done well. The sauce was sweet and the cheese was stretchy there were no complaints at our table and we are planning another visit in the future. The pizza was a little pricey $25.00 for a 1 topping pie but it was HUGE so, I'm okay with it. 

I had a really good time with my Dad on his trip and I'm hoping he will have to come back again soon. It always make me a little homesick when we have friends or family come visit and then they leave but the good news is our next visitors are coming in December for my birthday! Chad's sisters Apryle and Hollye will be here for an entire week and I can't wait for them to arrive! We are so blessed with all of our family and friends. I don't think we tell you guys enough how much we love you but we do! 

A day at the Horse Track

I'm currently trying to teach Chad how to use my camera so he can start taking pictures of me for the blog but it's still a work in progress. On Sunday we had a Groupon that was needed to use before it expired so we decided to head to Emerald Downs to watch some horse races! It was rainy that day and I decided this would be the perfect first outfit photo shoot. After 200 pictures only one turned out. What was wrong with all the others you ask? I'll let you see for yourself: 

This is going to be an interesting learning process. 

Here is the one winner of the day and there is still a stupid leaf on top of my head: 

I'm loving the Fall in my new rain coat, black tights, and black boots. I could wear this same look every single day. Is that too much?

Then we headed to Emerald Downs and promptly used our free food vouchers. We didn't plan on getting ice cream but once Chad saw that Junior Swirl it was in his hands before I knew it. It turned out to be a really fun photo prop and I'm in love with how cute Chad is. 

Note to self: Feed future children lots of ice cream and take pictures.

That smile and laugh gets me every time. Then Chad wanted to practice. These were much better and I now have hope that he will be able to take unblurry pictures of me one day. Although, I didn't get the memo to not eat the ice cream while posing. Modelings hard. 

Just doing what I do. 

Absolutely nothing was happening and he looks so focused. 

Way to much JUNK but we just can't turn down free stuff. 

Besides the fact that it was raining on and off and we forgot to bring cash we really had fun at the Emerald Downs. I can't wait for next summer and hopefully another Groupon because we plan on going back and betting on some horses to WIN! 

Have you ever won anything at a Horse Track? 

We forgot to bring any cash and this track didn't take cards. What is this the 90's?! 

Now you see me

I had such high hopes for this movie. Everyone I knew said how good it was and they all were LYING!
I like everyone in this movie but I have no idea what the whole thing was about? The big "twist" wasn't that impressive and what the hell was the ending about? What is the carousel about?! I don't get the point of the entire movie. Am I just dumb and not seeing it... tell me people?! What did I miss???

Chess Square Coma

My Daddy came to town this week and in preparation for his time with us I knew I had to make his favorite treat. (I'm from the South I show my love through food) I remember growing up and whenever my mom would make these things the entire house would smell like heaven. Honestly, you can't eat a ton of these...okay, well if you're my father you can. I swear after making these I realized they are literally nothing but sugar and butter. If you haven't ever had these babies you must go and make them immediately. Go ahead and get the insulin shot ready.

Ingredients:

Part 1:
1 Box of Butter Cake mix (you MUST get the Butter Cake)
1 egg
1 stick of softened butter

Part 2
1 8oz pack of softened Cream Cheese
3 eggs
1 box of confectioners sugar (1lb)

Mix Part 1 together and then press out the dough into the bottom of a sprayed 9x13 pan.

Mix Part 2 together (slowly add the sugar to the liquid or it will go EVERYWHERE)

Once it is all gooey and amazing pour it into the pan on top of the dough



Bake in the oven at 350 for 30-40 Minuets. Take out and let sit for an hour or so and then dig in and enjoy! I cut these and wrapped them individually so that I wouldn't eat then entire pan and I could give my father all of them to munch on during his work trip. If there is any left he can take them on the plane but I doubt they last that long!

The nutritional information on these was not calculated but I'm going to guess you can get about 20 squares at 700 calories each and 45 grams of fat. That's a lot of love my friends.

Purple Rain

Most of you know how much I love the color Purple. I have found that strangers even notice how much I love purple lately. Recently at the airport a flight attendant looked at me while boarding the plane smiled really big and said... I bet your favorite color is PURPLE! I then noticed that my carry-on was purple, my purse was purple, my phone case was purple, and my shirt was purple.
Well, couldn't deny that one. So, my point to this post is about a month ago I made a choice, I was going to dye my hair PURPLE. I started googling purple hair pictures and fell in love with the dark almost black looking purple. I have an office job so I knew that I had to really think about how I wanted to do this. My hair is dark in the first place and I decided that the best way to go about this transformation would be to foil the purple in and then put the purple dye over all of my hair giving my natural dark hair this pretty purple tent. I of course didn't come up with any of this my fantastic hair stylist Breyana at Haute Philosophy did. I am so happy with the results that I might never put a PM shine in my hair again and just keep getting the Purple put in. It makes my hair so rich and pretty. Everyone at my job has commented on how pretty my hair is and I keep getting the same response, "Oh, this is totally different than I was thinking - it looks so good!" Gotta love those kind of compliments haha.

If you follow me on instagram you have already seen a sneak peek: 

 

I did put about 15 filters on this one so you could see the color better so it's not that bright in person and I pulled back some of my hair on top so you could see the purple more.

Here is a more honest picture with only 1 filter and it just made everything darker but my hair is in a topknot this time.



I can't wait to curl it this week and take more pictures. My absolute FAVORITE style is it curled. The purple just pops out everywhere and I can't stop smiling or playing with it. Side note: Taking more and more pictures with my good camera these days and slowly learning how to use photoshop. I'm obsessed. Comparing these two pictures I feel like I lied to y'all the first time around... whoops.

 

Now, why is the blog titled Purple Rain? If you have ever gotten your hair colored you know that the first few times you wash your hair some of the color washes out. This is totally normal and hilarious when you have purple in your hair. I couldn't help but break out in song singing Purrrrpleee Rain....purrrrpppleee Raiiiiin and when I do that I can't help but think of all the fun times I've had with my best friends back home singing it at the top of our lungs while Chad covers it at his shows. Nicole... where is my dance partner?! I never meant to be your weekend loverrrrrrr! YEA!

 

You guys have no idea how many dollars we have with purple rain written on them.

Chad works for those tips ladies.

 

Trivia Time: Who sings Purple Rain? Don't be a poo head and Google it either or as the west coasters say "Bing it."

 

 

PS. If you're in the Kirkland, Washington area go do yourself a favor and get ya hair did at Haute Philosophy! First time clients get a FREE haircut with any color and LIKE them on Facebook to keep up with the daily deals. They have great deals like: Call now for 50% off Any service!

Oh, and call I do.



Pumpkin Brownies

It is Fall Y'all!!! One more reason I absolutely LOVE Seattle is that when September comes Fall arrives. No 88 degree weather like back home in Mississippi just nice crisp cool air, leaves turning that golden color, and the scent of pumpkin filling the air. Fall is my favorite season. I think after years of burning up during the summer (which is from March until October in the South) Fall gives you a breath of fresh air. I love the clothes, I love the foods, I love the season!

What better way to start off Fall this year than with a new easy recipe that of course I found on Pinterest. Pumpkin Brownies!

All you need is TWO things (I used three but I'm an overachiever by nature)
1. Boxed Brownie Mix (you can make your own if you turn your nose up at boxes)
2. 1 Can of Pumpkin Pie Puree
Optional #3 - 2 Teaspoons of Pumpkin Pie Spice or really, as much as you want.

Mix ingredients together until they look like brownies (Duh)

 

Put in the oven at 350 degrees for 35-40 Minutes. Use a 9x9 pan because these brownies do not rise and they won't end up dry. You can stick a toothpick in it if you want but it's going to come out wet. They are a different kind of texture, kinda fudgy. I absolutely love them but keep in mind these are PUMPKIN brownies. They will not taste like a regular brownie.

I let mine cool down for a few hours and then I sliced them up and wrapped them individually. I've found that if I do this I won't eat the entire pan at once. Notice there are only about 5 pictured. I got 12 out of this batch on Friday night and I have almost half left on a Monday? That my friends is unheard of in my family and I assure you it's not because they aren't good. They are just super thick, rich, and filling. I thought that these babies were healthy but after doing the nutritional facts I found out that was a lie. I'm sure using PUMPKIN makes it better than oil, butter, and eggs but they are still packing about 200 calories per brownie with about 5 grams of fat.

If you like Pumpkin try this out and let me know what you think!

What is your favorite Pumpkin recipe?

Tell me what ya think...

I have like 30 blogs in my head but no energy to write them. I'm way too busy watching YouTube videos. Sound off on these below!:

Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

Macklemore - White Walls 

Katy Perry - Roar