Love Is Love - Pride Parade

Every year we head downtown to celebrate our LGBT community and love with thousands of other people at the Seattle Pride Parade.  The parade has an energy of it's own, driven by the music, sights and spirit of the attendees.  The overall mood is one of joy and celebration, unabashed revelry, happiness and, simply,  Pride.  Pride in who you are, who you surround yourself with, who supports you.  These are important themes in how we are raising our boys. This year's pride served as a counterbalance to the tragedy in Orlando which also opened a dialogue about love and loss.  It was invigorating to be around so much delight and  emotion. 

Cinema Under The Stars - Outdoor Movies In the Greater Seattle Area

There is something amazing about watching a movie outdoors.  The sounds and sights are amplified by the openness of the venue.  Add in a crowd that is unfettered by the limitations of the theater and you have a spectacle that is unlikely to be recreated at your local Cinerama.  Luckily in the Seattle area there are several locations where you can watch a film with the sky above you.  The Fremont Outdoor Cinema is the longest running of the bunch with Seattle Parks and Recreation (at both Westlake and Occidental Parks), Magnuson Park, Marymoor Park and  the Seattle Center all hosting their own movies within the last few years. With this many venues, there are movies playing 3 to 4 nights a week. As an added bonus, many of the showings encourage dressing up and several showings have movie trivia or other activities before the show starts.  So gather up your low beach chairs, pack yourself some snacks and spread out a blanket under the stars....

Wednesday, July 6: Back to the Future – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 7: Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Magnuson Park

Wednesday, July 13: Jurassic World – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 14: Labyrinth- Magnuson Park

Friday July 15th:  Movies in the Park: Inside Out - Westlake Park

Saturday July 16th: DEADPOOL | 21+ - Fremont Studios

Wednesday, July 20: Inside Out – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 21: Star Wars: The Force Awakens- Magnuson Park

Friday July 22^nd: Movies in the Park: The Goonies - Westlake Park

Saturday July 23^rd: Pretty Woman 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Wednesday, July 27: Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 28: The Incredibles- Magnuson Park

Saturday July 30^th: Mad Max: Fury Road 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday July 30^th: The Princess Bride Quote-Along - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 3: Aladdin – Marymoor Park

Thursday, August 4^th: Guardians of the Galaxy – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 5^th: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 6^th: Grand Budapest Hotel 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday, August 6^th: Mad Max: Fury Road - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 10: Singin' in the Rain – Marymoor Park

Thur. August, 11^th: Zootopia – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 12^th: Spaceballs - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 13^th: Galaxy Quest - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 17: Zootopia – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 18^th: The Sandlot – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 19^th: Dudefest V - The Big Lebowski - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Friday, August 19^th:  Barbarella - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 20^th: West Side Story - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 24: The Princess Bride – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 25^th: The Goonies – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 26^th: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Cal Anderson Park

Friday, Aug 26^th:  Movies in the Park: Labyrinth - Occidental Square

Saturday, August 27^th: Life of Pi - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Friday, Sep 2^nd:  Movies in the Park: Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Occidental Square

$5.93 or Keep Your Eyes On The Ground

Over the last year our youngest and I have kept an eye to the ground.  It all started when we found a few pennies on one of our daily walks.  He asked if they were fake and, when I said they were real, asked why they had been thrown out.  It began a talk about the value of little things and how the things that some people thought had little value meant more to others.  We also discussed how little treasures added up quickly, both monetarily and in life.  We decided to collect what we found in a special container and total it after a year.  $5.93....134 coins....one little treasure almost every other day.  We are about to start a new year of treasure hunting....I think we'll keep looking down. 

Homemade Ramen - I Will Create Food!

Our family loves ramen!   It also happens to be one of the easiest soups to make and is very versatile. Start with your favorite broth and add your favorite veggies and noodles.  

You will need:

6 cups of your favorite broth - we use vegetable stock

1/2 cups green onions 

4 cups of your favorite veggies

One package of fresh ramen noodles - we get ours at either the Asian Food Center or Uwajimaya

1 Clove of garlic chopped

1 tbsp ginger

Sriracha to taste

Start with the broth.  

 Add chopped green onions, garlic and ginger and simmer for 15 minutes in a large pot.  You can also add Sriracha if you like a little kick.

Add all of your veggies. Simmer everything until the veggies soften. 

If you are using leafy veggies, such as bok choy or kale, wait to add them until 10 minutes before serving so they don't get mushy.

When your veggies are the consistency that you like them add the noodles.  After 7-8 minutes you will be ready to enjoy some amazing homemade ramen!  Enjoy.

Come Sail Away - Model Pond Boat Sailing @ Lake Union Park

Have you wanted to feel the wind in your hair and the sun in your face while commanding your own ship?  We recently were able to make those dreams a reality ...on a smaller scale. Every Saturday and Sunday from May to November, The Center for Wooden Boats rents out model boats for at the model boat pond.  Sailing the boats is as easy as pointing it into the wind and giving it a little push. The hard part is running around to other side after each voyage to sail it back. Pairing sailing with a visit to the MOHAI and a picnic makes for an amazing day out! Boat rentals are a $5 per hour suggested donation and the rentals are open from 11a.m. - 2p.m.

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Celebrate The Year of the Horse! - Lunar New Year

 

Dragons...That's all it should take to entice you to the Lunar New Year celebration in the International District.  To celebrate the New Year the international district puts on quite the shindig with dancing,  parades, food tasting, kid's costume contest and so much more. So head down to the ID and celebrate the Year of the Horse...and keep an eye out for Dragons.  More Info

Homemade Reese's Cups - I Will Create Food!

Kids love candy.  That goes without saying.  In my quest to give my kids slightly better alternatives we have been creating our own versions of various candy.  Their current favorite is our take on Reese's cups.  They are easy to make, but sadly don't last very long around here.

You will need:
1 Cup Peanut Butter - We use creamy but crunchy works just as well. We also use organic peanut butter to make them just a tiny bit healthier.
1 1/4 cups graham crackers - All natural as well (every little bit helps)
1 package of chocolate chips

First crush your graham cracker.  I use our food processor to make sure the grahams are nice and fine.

Next add in your Peanut butter.

If you have one of these push measuring cups it makes measuring the peanut butter so much easier!

Thoroughly mix the peanut butter and graham crackers until they are a play dough like consistency. 

Once it's thick enough to form it with your hands, roll it into balls and put in on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.

Once they are all rolled pop them in the freezer for a few minutes to harden them up.While your waiting, melt you chocolate chips.

Once their set up you are ready to start dipping.

Make sure you cover them completely.

Once they're coated, put them back in the freezer for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to set up.

Try them before they disappear!