my golden birthday!

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i'm not gonna lie, when it comes to my birthday i do not mess around. i am also a big proponent of "if you want something done, do it yourself" - and so a lot of these presents are already mine or en route to me thanks to myself. happy birthday to me, right? LOL - let's start with stuff i don't have yet...

two tickets to sasquatch - all three days

gift cards to my favorite boutique in the city - moksha

or earrings from moksha's fabulous collection

twilight hardcover book set (shut up)

and some lovely presents i just got...

olive boat neck top from my favorite local clothing line, spun

tibetan blue raglan pullover, also spun

pyramid heel, topshop (thx love)

aztec dress from ruche

and finally, tix to john legend & india arie - my first chateau ste. michelle show!

urban yoga spa, a downtown sanctuary!

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it's pretty rare to find a yoga & spa joint anywhere in the city, let alone downtown and right around the corner from one of my favorite spots (suite 410.) so this weekend bf and i decided to try out some yoga and spa treatments at the urban yoga spa - and were very impressed! if you're into a holistic sense of taking care of yourself - or you just love a good yoga session, facial or massage - definitely come check it out. for the thrifty, there's a couple of donation yoga sessions on the weekends. you can also take advantage of their grand opening spa specials and get 25% off all services thru april 4th!

urbanyogaspa.com

photo via  urban yoga spa on facebook

seattle works is on some brand new

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in honor of its 20th anniversary, seattle works underwent a couple of changes during the holidays - new office digs & new website! click on their brand new logo below to check out the website:

i love what seattle works does for the city:

Seattle Works offers opportunities for people to serve as active volunteers, iinformed voters, savvy charitable donors and knowledgeable community leaders.

goodbye and HELLO

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university village is one of our favorite places in the entire city. you wanna know why jacob and i have lived in various hoods throughout the NEside during the college & post-college years - the village is why!

i loved buster & sullivan, but only to window shop, because really, why would i want to spend $200 on a porcelain water dish that my bully is going to fuck up with slobber anyways? i can't really say i'm surprised when thanks to my friend frank, i found out buster & sullivan. i ain't sad though...

TROPHY CUPCAKES IS COMING!!!

trophy cupcakes is heaven on earth. for real, the patron saint of baking, martha stewart, has even blessed them with her approval. if you have the red velvet i guarantee you will never want to eat anything else for dessert ever again in life. the only problem with trophy WAS that driving down N45th to get to wallingford center was a pain at any given hour of the day. now i ain't even have to worry! i am going to have to learn some real lessons on restraint come springtime...

www.trophycupcakes.com

today was a GOOD day

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On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false
promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have
strangled our politics.

PRESIDENT OBAMA

i think the political landscape is in for a cultural and generational roller coaster over these next four years that it's never seen before. about time!

full text of president obama's inauguration speech here - chicago tribune

i'm like rev run - a small reflection on '08

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i got less than two hours left til the new year and i don't want to spend it blogging, but i did want to share one small reflection on the past year. if i can take anything away from 2008, it's that thinking and exuding positive vibes is a powerful thing. so simple yet so hard to master, right?

we all have our bad days (especially these past few months) but negativity is time and energy mad wasted. looking out for the best possible outcome in everything, even when you can't see it, is an amazing motivator to do better for self, for others and for the world. it's a lot more work to look for the positive than to feel sorry for yourself or to blame others, but the outcome is soooo much better in the end!

please keep that in mind as you encounter challenges, downfalls, downturns (:P) and just shitty days. be fortunate that you will be a better person once you overcome it! be fortunate that you have the life that you do, because there is always someone out there who can use your help.

i wrestle with this every day, in my work and in life. challenging myself to think and stay positive has led to some things i can really be proud of looking back: taking on an events director promotion, joining the board for dress for success' young execs for success (YES), and being nominated for the Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list among the major things; navigating my relationship, dealing with stress and managing my time among some of the smaller things.

i look forward to great things in '09 and wish you much success, happiness, prosperity and POSITIVITY!

i now only have good days and great days
-lance armstrong

pdx x jess

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every time we go down to portland, we have to hit three of my favorite places on the planet...

compound is a gallery/boutique with a very urban japanese vibe. here you can pick up exclusive kicks, stussy jewelry, anap & married to the mob for her, orisue & hundreds for him. i think when we build that house we are always dreamin up, we will fill it only with art from compound's gallery. their artists are that awesome. check it: justbecomplex.com

the doug fir is the place to be for food and for some of the best shows in town. i can't describe the feel of the place - the best i can say is that it's the dopest log cabin i've ever been in! if you go, you have to have the keiko coffee, it's bomb: dougfirlounge.com

end your night at the jupiter hotel, adjacent to the doug fir and another one of the coolest places i have ever stayed. the owner took a motel 6-type building and made it uber-hipster. you can rub elbows with the bands staying the night after their show, just outside of the door/chalkboard. each of the rooms are designed and outfitted with a balance of retro and simple modern chic. i wanted the sam flores shower curtain! jupiterhotel.com

wish list '08

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my wish list this year is pretty simple and straightforward - gift cards galore please! i'm like rachel from friends; kinda picky, hard to shop for and notorious for getting rid of things unworthy of my closet or home. so to make things real easy for my friends & family, here are some of my favorite places to spend money, starting off with the places who need things way more than i do. i'll take care of bringing home the creature comforts i want and need with my own $$$...

favorite charities - would LOVE a donation in my name (or meatball's) to these wonderful places!
PAWS
Seattle Humane Society
Dress for Success
United Way
Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation
Seattle Aquarium Society
Northwest Harvest

favorite stores (local love first)
moksha
coastal
snowboard connection
goods
H&M
nordstrom
amazon.com
target
costco
whole foods
barnes & noble
banana republic
endless.com
anthropologie
karmaloop

a few favorite brands
nike
obey
casual industrees
cubannie links
rvca

experiences
gift card to kim ricketts book events for an upcoming cooks & books or words & wine
tickets to UFC 94, my dream fight GSP vs. BJ!
tickets to the nutcracker
suite @ the four seasons seattle for a night or two - romantic getaway in the city, hayyyy
surfing lessons
long skateboard
snowboard
spa services @ gene juarez
skydive

thank you maya angelou

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i just finished letter to my daughter by maya angelou. this is maya's collection of essays on lessons learned, challenges faced and blessings counted - and meant for the daughter maya sees in every woman. i am a big fan of short reads (my attention span is at an all-time low and i can't read too much on the bus before getting naseous.) because of this, the messages weren't lost on me. thank you maya, it's an honor to have received these letters.


touchdown animals

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originally i was just going to post this because i thought it was cute that seahawks players were posing with rescued animals in the Pasado's Safe Haven Pro-Compassion Calendar. then i read the story of Pasado and how he inspired Susan Michaels to do her part in making sure animal cruelty is eliminated in washington state and i really had to cry.

visit pasado's safe haven to order your Pro-Compassion Calendar - but make sure you also read Pasado's story while you're there. it'll break your heart to know how many dbags are out there doing despicable things to animals. you'll also find out how you can help Pasado's Safe Haven's cause!

and just because:

help a sista & her animal friends out!

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hi friends!

On September 6th, I will be walking in PAWSwalk for the first time!

If you have a pet or know someone who does, you know that it's not easy or cheap to care for them.

Imagine having to care for hundreds of abandoned or abused pets!

I'm walking to raise money for PAWS because I'm amazed by the work they accomplish every day for animals.

PAWS is well-known for their work with pets. In 2007 alone, PAWS Companion Animal Shelter found new and loving homes for more than 2,500 cats and dogs. That means literally TONS of cat litter, dog and cat food, toys, and treats.

And, that's why I'm asking for your support!

Your gift of $30 will feed every dog and cat in the shelter for one day.

PAWS is also a leader in educating our community on animal compassion. During the last school year, PAWS Humane Educators reached more than 4,000 students, ensuring that tomorrow's leaders are taught compassion for animals right from the start.

I love what PAWS does, and I hope you will support me in my walk to help the animals!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support PAWS!

Thank you!

xo.

jess