This past weekend, as you know, I headed to the left coast for my cousin’s wedding. I had never been to Seattle, though everyone I know has.
While there, we participated in the classic bridal-shower game: toilet paper brides. Here’s what we came up (our inspiration: bows and more bows), as modeled on my youngest cousin, age 5:

The wedding was good, and it was fun to spend extended time with my extended family, something we rarely get to do as we’re spread coast to coast (though I’m the only one on this coast).
Sunday, my dad and I got to do some exploring in Seattle. I had wanted to visit Pike’s Market, and though my dad has been to Seattle dozens of times, he’d never been.
Once we got there, the first thing I saw was a Turkish restaurant. I had to eat there for lunch and, more importantly, share Turkish cuisine with my dad, otherwise known as the pickiest eater I’ve ever met. I knew if I ordered the right thing, he’d actually like it, as Turkish food is pretty simple: meat, veggies, and bread. For the uninitiated, it’s very similar to Greek.

Can’t you tell he’s humoring me? I’m very thankful to have a dad who will do anything for his daughter!
The verdict was that he ate the chicken, onion,and sauce out of it and actually liked it. He also liked the cheese pide I ordered:

That’s kaşar cheese inside. That and the sesame seeds definitely remind me of Turkey…
Walking through the market, we saw this terrace on a nearby building. This is my aspirations as a plant lady:

When we drove to the other side of the sound, we saw the largest starfish I’ve ever seen (well over a foot long!) in the surprisingly clear water. And this rainbow over Seattle:

I had a great trip. Even the 4 hours I spent in Newark were pleasantly spent reading. This is now my 4th time on the West Coast, and each time I go, I absolutely love it. Just a different attitude than out east, and one that resonates more with me.