Food Truck Park Coming to Seattle

Food trucks are the newest craze across the United States.   Tacos, burgers, and even pasta trucks are in cities across the United States.  However, Steve Katsandres of Seattle is trying to open a beer garden mated with a food truck pot.  There will be seating, drinks, varieties of food, and public bathrooms.  Keep reading to learn more about this new Seattle location. You can learn more at Seattle Met. 

In 1995, Steve Katsandres opened Bad Albert's Tap and Grill, named for his portly feline, on a then-sleepy Ballard Ave. He went on to a variety of food and management roles around town but now, 20 years later, Katsandres and a few partners (all Ballard natives) are bringing something entirely new to the neighborhood.

Ballard Bites and Brew is essentially a beer garden mated with a food truck pod. Katsandres is transforming a vacant lot at 1502 NW 50th Street (in the thick of Ballard's brewery zone) into a parklike space where local drafts will flow and food trucks will take up regular positions—four at a time, rotating in and out by day and night.

Currently Seattle food trucks set up camp in pods (variety, but no seating) or outside a specific establishment, like a brewery (seating and beer, but just one truck at a time). Theoretically the Bites and Brew setup fuses the best of these two worlds: ample seating, beer, variety...and bathrooms. A building dubbed the "draft shack" will house eight taps and a variety of canned beers, while the other side of the building will dispense drive-thru espresso and breakfast sandwiches in the morning. There will be a stage for live music; Katsandres uses the term "park" to describe his creation because he wants it to have a family friendly, neighborhood vibe to it.

Opening something heretofore nonexistent in Seattle can make for some adventures in permitting, but Katsandres and partners hope Ballard Bites and Brew will be open by April. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for updates.

The Perfect Seattle Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day weekend is quickly approaching.  Seattle is one of the best places to live to celebrate this holiday.  The city had some of the best top Diamond-rated hotels from AAA.  Do not forget about the amazing spa packages you can get for a loved one in the city.  Keep reading this blog and learn more about your Valentine's Day options here.

Looking for a local getaway to celebrate this Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re seeking a romantic night away or planning an adventure with friends, cruise the list of AAA’s top Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants for a memorable experience.

Two hotels in Washington were recently added to the list of local AAA Four Diamond properties: The Davenport Tower (Spokane) and Cameo Heights Mansion Bed & Breakfast (Touchet). The Vine, an on-site chef’s table style restaurant at Cameo Heights Mansion Bed & Breakfast, also earned a AAA Four Diamond award for the first time, the only new restaurant added to the list in Washington for 2015.

For those looking for a little more relaxation during their stay, the Salish Lodge and Spa (Snoqualmie) andWoodmark Hotel and Still Spa (Kirkland) offer massages, facials, body therapy treatments and more. Both recently celebrated 25 years as AAA Four Diamond lodging.

“These establishments set the standard for exceptional hospitality and attention to detail.” said Jennifer Cook, AAA Washington’s senior manager of corporate communications. “Whether you’re looking to celebrate with someone special or plan to treat yourself, these locations consistently deliver high quality service and strive to create memorable experiences for their guests.”

The Westin Seattle Hotel remains the longest running AAA Four Diamond establishment in Washington, celebrating 34 consecutive years. The Herbfarm Restaurant (Woodinville) has earned a coveted AAA Five Diamond rating for 13 consecutive years and remains the only Five Diamond establishment in the Pacific Northwest. However, known for its lavish nine-course dinners and impressive wine pairings, the Herbfarm is sure to book up quickly.

“As with any holiday, we recommend making reservations in advance, especially if you intend to dine out,” said Cook. “Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, so if you want a table, plan ahead, especially since it lands on a long weekend in recognition of President’s Day.”

What does it take to make it as a respected AAA Diamond rated establishment? AAA inspectors collectively visit 58,000 hotels and restaurants throughout the year to conduct physical, on-site evaluations. Celebrating 79 years of the AAA Diamond rating program, inspectors are able to distinguish emerging trends within the hospitality industry and identify new approaches to enhance guest comfort and satisfaction.

Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Do you feel trapped in your home this winter? No matter what age you are these creative ideas will let you have some fun on the snowy nights of February. Take a peak at these three easy DIY Projects. If you want more ideas for the winter blues, check out Apartment Therapy

Around this time of year, cold nights and inclement weather mean lots of nights spent at home. If you're growing a little fatigued with Netflix marathons, we've got a few ideas for fun, easy projects that are sure to drive the winter blues away.

This clementine candle DIY is an Apartment Therapy classic. All you need to make it is an orange, a knife, and a little oil. These little guys are cute as a button, will make your home feel warmer and smell great, and you can even float them in the bathtub.


Flower pounding is a fun, novel way to create art for your home, or just while away a winter evening. The video suggests gathering flowers around your home, which may not be a possibility around this time of year, but you can always pick up a bouquet at the florist or grocery store, and use the flowers that don't get pounded to brighten up your home.

The jitterbug will provide hours of entertainment and is a fun little toy to make, even if you don't have a lot of (or any) experience with electronics. You can even make a couple and have jitterbug battles. You may ever want to leave home ever again.

4 Important Elements for Home Organization

What are your keys to staying organized in your home?  There are four vital elements that will make your home organization that much easier.  These include purging scheduled and creative storage solutions.   Keep reading this blog to learn more, and check out Apartment Therapy for more great home tips.



1. A regular schedule for purging

Did you think we were going to say "label maker"? Hey, we're sure those are handy to have around, too. But to really want to end your disorganized ways for good to end up with rooms that stay pretty smart and sleek on the regular, you're going to have to plan out, record and stick to a regular schedule for purging.

So whip out the planner or calendar app, and make dates with yourself and your storage in intervals that work for your needs. Think about the hot spots in your home, and think about how long it took for them to get messy again after an organization session. This will tell you how many purging sessions to schedule and what the intervals need to be. Then of course, don't ignore those reminders when they pop up through out the year!

2. Creative storage that stretches out, gets a little weird but most importantly gets the job done

Unless you were blessed with wall-to-wall built-in cabinets (and actually, even if you're lucky enough to have that!), you're going to want to customize the storage you have, add more to what your home came with, get a little weird if it means making something work for your needs and not be afraid to go vertical, horizontal and every direction in between.

It's about not accepting the extra space in between your stuff and your existing shelves — it's using every square inch with small but easy additions like shelf risers and under shelf hooks. It's about going vertical, stealing storage space from hidden spots like under the bed and above the door. It's not about making more space to fill up; it's about giving your stuff — and yourself — room to breathe.

3. A works-for-you storage hierarchy

Do you always have to move five boxes out of the way to get to the one box full of things you actually use regularly? Well that doesn't sound like your storage is working very well for you. And you know what that might lead to? You not using your storage, your stuff cluttering up and your home not being nearly as functional as it could be.

It's more common than you think — folks tend to stick to the way they set-up their space after move-in — and you can not realize that you're going through pretty ridiculous movements to get to things. So reevaluate your space for howyou use it on a regular schedule, and don't be afraid to make storage changes to make it easier to get to things. Fay Wolf explains it well in this one-minute video tip and you should give your home a function makeover:

4. Storage elements that excite

Whoo buddy this can be a tough one to implement if there's absolutely nothing about the act of storage and organizing that revs your engine. But that means you've got to try even harder. Maybe it's a shiny new label-maker you use to pump out helpful but witty labels. Maybe it's splurging on a set of baskets so gorgeous you can't wait to tuck things away in them.

You're looking for that motivation — the sort of thing that's going to keep you coming back to your storage solutions and using them long after the luster as worn away. It could even just be hanging on to the feeling of a refreshing, creativity-inducing space when you organize. You've got to find what it is that excites you about getting and staying organized and invest the time and energy for your rooms, you're worth it!

Uses For Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil has many uses in the home and in food.  However, there are 15 ways you can use this oil to improve your body and your home.  This blog gives you links and ideas on how to use this delicious smelling oil.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

• As a body lotion and moisturizer: Smooth on the room temperature oil and watch it melt into your skin! As a "dry" oil, it won't leave a film of grease on your skin.
  
• Stop the itch: Mosquitos been feasting on you? Dab on a bit of coconut oil to quell the itch (and next time, tuck a dryer sheet into your pocket to keep the bugs away). Plus, it may help the bite heal without leaving a scar and it's antibacterial properties will help it from getting infected.

• Insect repellent: Mix coconut oil with a few drops of peppermint oil to keep bugs away!

• Aftershave: Slather it on your face or legs after shaving to prevent rashes.

• Sunscreen: It sounds counter-intuitive but apparently it works.

• Deodorant: Use a small amount alone or combine with equal parts baking soda and cornstarch. Work into a solid paste until it's the same consistency as the stick kind.

• Hair Conditioner: lightly coat your palms and smooth it into your hair before styling. It's especially great in the winter, smoothing flyaways and taming frizzy hair.
  
• Toothpaste: Try this recipe!

• Furniture Polish: Mix it with a little lemon juice and use it on wood furniture.

• Bronze Polish: Rub a little into bronze items to clean and deepen the color.

• Leather cleaner: Using a clean cloth, work a small amount into leather shoes to moisturize them and make them shine.

• Remove rust: Before you toss those rusty knives or scissors, try this: slick coconut oil on the blades and let it sit for an hour then rinse with warm water.
  
• Remove labels and their sticky residue: Cover the label with a film of coconut oil and let it soak in for a moment. The label should wipe off. Use a bit of oil on a towel to remove whatever's left.

• Remove gum from hair: Peanut butter was the go to remedy for this when I was a kid. Coconut oil's a lot more pleasant to work with. Apply the oil directly to the gum, let it sit for a moment before slowly sliding the gum out.
  
• Stain remover: Click here for details on how to make a spotting stick to remove clothing stains. The undiluted oil can be used to clean ink off of plastic and vinyl furniture.

Remember Your Breakfast

How many times a week do you skip breakfast?  Everyone has always told you breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  However, this saying does not always stay in your brain as you are running out the door in the morning.  Make sure you get your breakfast every morning with these five tips.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.

1. Keep breakfast in mind when you grocery shop.

This sounds simple, but when the week gets busy, this step can be easy to overlook. If you've ever filled your cereal bowl only to realize you were out of milk, you know what I'm talking about.

During the weekend I like to stock up on all of the staple items I'll need for the week. Think about what you want to eat for breakfast during the week — maybe it's fresh fruit, a simple bowl of cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, or muffins. Whatever it is, pick up everything you need before the week gets rolling. There's a good chance you'll eat a better breakfast when you have the things you want to eat on hand.

2. Prep breakfast basics ahead of time.

This one simple step makes all the difference in the world. If your mornings are anything like mine, time is a precious commodity, so the less work I have to do, the better! It makes your routine easier, when your favorite foods are prepped and ready to eat. Keep breakfast foods easy and convenient.

For you, maybe this means cutting up fruit, prepping smoothie ingredients, or leaving the bowls, spoons and boxes of cereal ready to go on the kitchen table.

3. Hard-boiled eggs are your friend!

This is one of my top picks for a quick and easy breakfast! I make a pot of hard-boiled eggs on Sunday night, and they last me through the week. Hard-boiled eggs are quick to make, nutritious, and so versatile! Eat them on their own, or slice on top of a piece of toast along with some greens. (Soft-boiled eggs can be made ahead too.)

4. Find a few make-ahead breakfasts you like.

When food is prepped, prepared, and pretty much at your finger tips it's a lot more likely you'll end up eating a better breakfast. Whether it's porridge, granola, or scones, find something you like and make and make a week's worth ahead of time.

5. Grab and go containers are a game changer.

Don't stop at make ahead breakfasts; also make them ready to go. Again, convenience is the name of the game in the morning. The less work you have to do, the better. I love making a week's worth of oats on Sunday night, then portioning them into individual-size containers (along with toppings!). In the morning all I have to do is reach in the fridge and grab it as I'm running out the door for work.

What's your best tip for eating a better breakfast during the week?

De-Clutter Your Apartment

Does your apartment get cluttered throughout the week? Here are some great tips on how to slowly eliminate the clutter that builds up throughout the week. These tips will help your apartment stay cleaner, and it will help you feel less stressed when you come home. You can learn more at apartment therapy.

Designated Outbox: Set up a permanent basket, box, or bag by your front door to toss things that need to go. Make it part of your decor so that it's part of your daily life and doesn't just look like a messy cardboard chore lurking in the corner, sending accusing looks at you. Try emptying it once a week or at least twice a month.

Clean As You Cook: Somehow a messy kitchen with a pile of dishes is always the first stop on the ride on the messy train. Never go to bed with a sink full of dishes. Waking up to dirty dishes just sets you starting your day off wrong. Also, try to clean up as you cook so that when dinner is done you don't turn around to more work and can end your night on a good note.
Sort Mail Immediately: I am guilty as charged when it comes to piles of mail in various places that "I'll get to later." My new workflow is: pick up mail; open it over the recycle bin; put bills in a designated bill cubby; and feel good while doing it.

Tidy Up 10 Minutes a Day: You can split this up into two five-minute chunks or a full ten. Quickly shuffle through your house (preferably at the end of the day) and put away all those little things that you took out, opened, or tossed on the couch throughout the day. This way you can reset your home each evening and start fresh each morning.

Refocus Your Energy: A long time ago I heard someone say, 'it takes just as much energy to be messy and it does to be clean" and it always stuck with me. It makes total sense: when you're messy you are just delaying the energy it will take to clean it up instead of doing it immediately. I find that, when I clean as I go, I'm much happier and rest so much better without 'to do's' weighing on my mind, or seeing guilt-ridden piles of stuff.