From Where I Write // Twirl Cafe

Today I'm writing from a small table right outside the jungle ;) Me and Ollie are with Lanissa and Aria at Twirl Cafe! It's the perfect place to let the kids explore and play while us mommies get a little business done. Lanissa and I are taking the Blog (Design) Love e-course from A Beautiful Mess. We're really excited to learn new ways to design our blog and website, making them reflect more of who we are! I'm having a great time brainstorming and learning new tricks. Keep on the look out for new things here on HappyCandido!

More about Twirl Cafe. It's a super cute place with a custom built 'tree house', slide, cave, and awesome paintings on the walls. The play area is full of creative toys I love watching Ollie play. There is an excellent menu of healthy, mostly organic, local food. Oh man, so good. Also, there are goldfish for your pet kitties to eat while you play…

If you're in the area, check it out! Maybe take a kid with you, otherwise you might look suspicious. ha!

xoxo

Joy

Like A Tourist

Last week while Camillo was on spring break, we took a trek to Alki Beach. It's over in West Seattle, only about 20 minutes from us but this was our first time there! The day was dry but overcast, perfect weather for Mama and the baby to wear matching coats ;) 

These next few pictures..oh my gosh. We thought we were so clever to put Ollie up on those big cement platform and hide behind him so it looked like he was standing there by himself. Let me tell you that we were giggling so much! And as you can see, Oliver wasn't quite as interested in our fake out photo as he was with his zipper.

 And then he found how awesome the concrete felt to his little fingers... 

Silly faces with Daddy! 

It's always fun to try new places. If you're ever in the area, go check out Alki Beach Park! There are great walking paths, lots of sand and pretty driftwood. Go around lunch time and try the chimichanga at Cactus!!

xoxo

Joy

Our Valentine's

Since Camillo had a test Friday morning, Thursday night wasn't going to work out for a Valentine's date. No problem to me! We stayed in to order a pizza and watch a movie. But Monday night, we got dressed up (I shaved my legs, people!) and headed out to Fumaça Brasilian Steakhouse. Even our little mister wore his Sunday clothes :)

I was kinda nervous taking Oliver (now accepting babysitter applications) since it was close to nap time but he was a champ. He quietly watched the servers walking around and listened to our conversation. When he was ready to eat, we sat him in a big boy chair (!!) and he ate his sweet potatoes and drank his water. (Let's not tell him that mommy and daddy were eating delicious meats, rice, and beans and drinking coconut soda..)

It was a fun night out on the town with my boys. I realized how much a little time out with the baby and the Daddy can be good for my spirits. I say these boys take Mama on dates more often!! 

xoxo

Joy

Donuts, Brioche, and Macarons at the Market

A couple weeks ago, Camillo and I made plans to take Oliver to the pumpkin patch! We were going to go after church and spend the afternoon taking pictures while Ollie had the time of his life. Right? Well, that's how I envisioned it. However, sitting in the parking lot underneath dark grey clouds, we realized it might not be the best idea. My happy thoughts turned to visions of soaking wet, muddy mom and dad, and screaming baby. Okay, so we decided this would be the only year we could skip the pumpkin patch. But we still wanted to do something fun so we drove down town to the Pike Place Market for a stroll through the vendors.

At the Daily Dozen, we waited in line for a variety dozen of donuts. They're made right there, on the spot, and totally worth the wait in line. Plus, they have tiny little apple pies!

It's hard to walk through the market without taking a handful of cliche photos. Ya know, the ones with rows and rows of brightly colored fruit and veggies. But seriously, isn't it beautiful? 

We also stopped in at La Panier, a 'very french bakery', for some croissants and brioche. I think I enjoyed the display of macarons as much as the breads we tasted!

Oh, look who's awake! Of course he slept through the whole thing. I'm glad we didn't go to the P-patch this year. It probably would have been disappointing to realize he might not have cared as much as mama ;)

I love snuggling my little guy in his baby k'tan. It's really comfortable and he can sleep for hours in it. Next year, he'll be just over a year old - the perfect age for pumpkins and corn mazes, yes? Until then, mama doesn't mind a day at the market.

xoxo

Joy

Today I'm thankful

For crockpots. Oh my word, I shouldn't even have to explain why. 

That we live on a busy street because the sound of traffic calms Ollie down.

    (funny fact: when we stay at my parents' house I have to turn the sound machine on to it's 'traffic'

    setting. Otherwise, it's too quiet for him to sleep!!)

For dark chocolate hot cocoa..mmm

First day of Autumn Soup and Sandwich

I love the days that are perfect for hot soup and sandwich and the first day of October called for just that!

Usually I think tomato soup is a little bland so I added a few things to this batch and we thought it was delicious!!

I added some left over mashed potatoes to a can of soup, then topped with corn.

Add a grilled cheese sandwich and viola! - the perfect lunch for a cold afternoon!

After we ate lunch Saturday, we snuggled up with some cozy blankets on the couch and watched a couple (or 7) episodes of Friends.

It was so great and relaxing to just be home doing nothing.

Plus, there's something about Friends on an autumn afternoon that takes me back to our dating days.

We've watched the entire series almost four times now which must mean it's a yearly tradition, right?

What are some of your end of summer traditions?

xoxo

Joy

Wings and pickle chips?

Yes, please! 

We spent a lunch hour at Wingdome and the boys were in heaven. 

I ate a tasty salad with grilled chicken.

It was pretty good but I forgot to get the dressing on the side and it was a little mushy by the end.

      

Notice the TVs everywhere?

Different sports channel on each one!

If you've never had pickle chips, I'll tell ya they're a good (very occasional) splurge.

 

And then there were the wings.

Medium spicy, really spicy, and some sort of cheesy...

I didn't try them but Isaac and Camillo enjoyed them.

 

All the way down to the bones!

 

Overall it was a fun place for lunch, and I'm sure Camillo will want to go again.

Next time I think I'll try a burger!

Have you guys tried any new food joints this summer?

We're trying to be a little more adventurous and eat new food.

There are always those few places that you crave though, right?

xoxo

Joy

Husky Pride

Nope, not UW..

We found Husky Deli the other day and, boy, what a treat!!

Their ice cream was delicious  and made right there in the family store!

Here's a little video as to how they make it...mmmMM!

They can even create custom flavors!!!

Out of the 20+ flavors, all three of us some how ended up choosing oreo cookie.

Can I please elaborate how tasty it was?!!?

As you can see, it was so good, the boys didn't even care that I was 

taking a hundred pictures of them.

Do you guys have a favorite summer-treat-go-to?

I think this might be our new spot.

We also tried out an Indian restaurant, Wingdome, and Dubliner's while Isaac was here.

It's fun to explore new things when company is in town but geez, 

I'm not going to be able to eat for a week!

There are some more photos + reviews of those places coming up in the next few days so keep an eye out.

In other news, today was Day 2 of my intern boot camp.

My brain is full of a lot and I'm doing my best to sort it all out.

I'm glad I took decent notes!

Tomorrow we don't start until 10am (instead of 830am).

Is it weird that I'm excited about the extra time not because I could sleep in but because I'll get to work out? 

Hi, my name is Joy and I'm addicted to the gym...

xoxo

Joy