BOOKS

Pineapple Street has a reference to a city the PNW

Almost 10 very PNW books you might want to read this summer

May 12, 2023

(this list of pnw books contains affiliate links to a site that supports local bookstores) I often read books with a sense of place before I go on a trip, so here are a few that feel very Pacific Northwest if you are visiting the area or even if this is where you call home. […]

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my 12 fans visiting Santa wearing their Seahawks jerseys

Last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers that you can still order today

December 14, 2018

This Last-minute gifts list includes some items I received as samples and also contains affiliate links where I might receive a commission.  It’s the last sprint before Christmas and if you are getting really sweaty and frazzled trying to dream up gift ideas I have a last-minute gift ideas list that might help you out […]

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travel books and other things we're loving for family trips

Travel books and other things we’re loving in our house right now

September 27, 2018

Every time we fly with my kids I look for travel books that inspire them to learn more about the place we’re visiting.  Like when we recently visited Italy, I looked for books for them to learn more about Rome and Florence so they would be more excited when they saw these places in real […]

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Explorer and adventurer book recommendations for boys 8-12 years old by National Geographic Kids

Adventure books for kids to dream about exploration now that they’re back in school

September 8, 2018

How is summer over?  I dropped my kids off at school this week for their first day and I’m not sure any of us were ready for school to start. We have had a great summer of adventures and it’s hard to go back to daily routines and I wonder how hard it’s going to […]

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Still Me by Jojo Moyes and Valentines Gift Inspiration

A Valentine’s Gift List because I met Jojo Moyes

February 8, 2018

”Be kind” Jojo Moyes says when someone asks her what the one thing the breadth of ALL her work tells us at an author reading the other  night at Third Place Books in Bothell. “Kindness is an underrated virtue.  Be strong, be courageous and if you’re strong within, the world will be a better place.” […]

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Obasan by Joy Kogawa

Advent Calendar shopping on a Monday

October 23, 2017

It is such a blasé Monday because I just came back from my 20th reunion in my hometown with family and friends and Monday is hitting me so hard.  When this happens I try to add a little excitement to my life to make me feel better, so today it’s all about advent calendars for […]

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Purple Cow Backpack World Rummy Game

Family travel tools to help you on World Tourism day

September 27, 2017

Yes, there are millions of theme days nowadays, but today is one that is dear to my heart.  There is nothing like travel to make the big wide world feel smaller and more like a interconnected community and I would rather have a handful of travel days in my heart than any materials things.  That […]

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Summer in Seattle at Moss Bay Boating

When Tuesday is a little scary for a mom of twins on a Monday

September 6, 2016

I slipped and called my duo ‘babies’ at a wedding the other night.  But my twins really aren’t that little anymore and I can’t believe it.  My giant 8-year-old babies are starting school again in a few hours and I’m totally going to miss them.   Apparently this year my guys will be in different classes for […]

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Souvenirs from Japan

Travel Reading to inspire trips or to help you when you get home on a Monday

May 25, 2016

In the next few weeks you’ll hear about our recent trips to San Diego, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo on the blog-we literally just flew in from our travels and back to a world of baseball and soccer practices, piano and school.  It makes me realize how precious family time on trips is in all […]

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Kids baseball in Seattle at Ella Bailey Park

A Book to read for Baseball Season in Seattle

April 15, 2016

It’s baseball season again and now that we’ve played a few years, we’re starting to get serious.  Practices are longer and we now have kid pitchers who throw the ball for part of the game.  Coaches take notes on little pads of paper and I look around wondering which of the neighborhood kids might play […]

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Gifts and books that can inspire little travelers

March 2, 2016

My guys have loved travel since our first trips up to see family in Vancouver when they were teeny tiny babies.  Because Vancouver is about a three-hour drive from Seattle, it meant a van-load full of stuff and drives conveniently timed between naps.  Back then our travel needs were totally different than they are now […]

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Kukai or Kizuki Ramen in Seattle

Being whisked back to Kangaroo Care and a pile of reading on a Monday

February 8, 2016

One of my littles has a fever today and it’s rattling his little body and making my heart hurt.  I am thankful I can clear my calendar so we can spend some time reading, snuggling and drinking lots of fluids but it makes me feel as helpless as I did way back in our early […]

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winter wonderland at seattle center

Books for the Holidays make a Great Tradition for Kids

December 12, 2015

My advent calendar is halfway done and it’s been so uplifting to hear all the wonderful messages from friends and family about what this season means to them.  My friend Heather, who we met years ago in a birthing class for multiples, sent me a tradition she has in her family that I absolutely love! […]

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dahlia bakery cookbook from Tom Douglas in Seattle

How to be invited to a private dinner with Tom Douglas at Seattle Macy’s 

October 30, 2015

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own: Do you have a copy of this book, the Dahlia Bakery Cookbook? It’s one of my favorites and so is its namesake bakery, the Dahlia Bakery in Seattle, Washington, where you can find many of the recipes from the […]

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fran's chocolates where you can see chocolate made

Exciting Seattle weekend things you might want to check out too!

August 14, 2015

Some weekends are more exciting than others and this one I’m truly ecstatic about.  It might be because two of my favorite littles are coming for a visit.  There is nothing cuter in my world than when the big twins and little twins get together. Friday you might want to check out a fabulous night […]

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Birthday Month Monday and some early morning shopping

November 4, 2013

It’s my birthday month and I’m loving the love from some of my favorite stores.  For being a member on Anthro and Urban Outfitters, they send wishes with great coupons.  Tory Burch (I love that she’s a twin boy momma too!) sent me a $50 coupon which is VERY helpful in her stores. And I’m […]

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Dear Monday, why so angry? Here are some lovely things. (My Monday Reviews)

August 5, 2013

The hubby’s been wondering why I’ve been dropping a few more colorful vocabulary terms in our recent conversations, but it’s really not my fault.  It’s totally because of some lovely ladies in my life who told me about Thug Kitchen and why I have to make some potato salad and bean burritos.  (Actually, why I […]

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Larry gets lost in Sanfrancisco review

Books to Read with Kids before heading to San Francisco

July 17, 2013

Relatives from Vancouver started us on this tradition years ago when the kids were born. Long before my guys had ever been to Vancouver our shelves were lined with books like “Goodnight Vancouver” and “Timmy the West Coast Tug“; stories that highlighted places from the homeland so that when they one day traveled there, they’d […]

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If your kids love noodles…

July 5, 2013

you might want to try making them.  There are so many great cookbooks for kids and I found a great book that helps kids learn how to cook some of their favorite foods.  We tried making noodles the other day and it was so much fun! “A Silver Spoon for Children” is the perfect book […]

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Seattle Summer Day 1: Library Reading log

June 18, 2013

This is not a bucket list (we have our list of 5 things we want to do here and I just signed up for some kind of bucket list challenge) but there are 78 or so days left of summer and I intend to fully savor them.  Today we helped keep libraries from extinction by […]

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